LONDON, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening
down about 0.3 percent on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers, breaking
a six-session winning streak.

Britain's Chancellor Alistair Darling said the UK was "far from through" the
recession, and that achieving economic recovery was a long way from completion.
[ID:nL7363660]

The Times said the British car industry will suffer a fresh blow when new
figures are expected to show that sales fell by more than 20 percent last month.

Meanwhile, Japan is reportedly considering cash injections for scores of
regional banks in an effort to encourage lending. Tokyo's Nikkei average .N225
rose 1.7 percent.

Overnight, U.S. stocks gained on the increased likelihood of a government
stimulus package after the release of minutes from the last Federal Reserve
policy meeting painted a dismal picture of the economy.

The U.S. operations of LyondellBasell, the world's third-largest
petrochemcial company, filed for bankruptcy protection under the weight of a
massive debt load and slumping demand for its products.

The UK benchmark closed up 1.3 percent at 4,638.92.
FirstGroup (FGP.L: Quote, Profile, Research) is the only FTSE 100 going ex-dividend this session and
expected to take 0.12 points off the index.

* US STOCKS-Wall St rises on stimulus plan hopes; tech leads [ID:nN06444881]

* Nikkei at 2-mth closing high, logs 7-day winning run [ID:nECB01056]

* GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia stocks at 2-month high, dollar firm [ID:nL7267046]

* Dollar holds firm near 1-month high vs euro [ID:nT290293]

* TREASURIES-Slip in Asia on improved risk appetite [ID:nT34508]

* Oil steady under $49, eyes U.S. inventory, jobs data [ID:nSIN418165]

* PRECIOUS-Gold falls on firmer dollar, platinum extends gains [ID:nT66130]

UK stocks to watch on Wednesday are:

MARKS & SPENCER (MKS.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The retailer, which is due to issue its trading update, plans to shut down
more than 10 of its stand-alone 'Simply Food' stores as it battles tough trading
conditions, the Financial Times said. [ID:nL7605482]

VODAFONE (VOD.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

Verizon Wireless, owned by Vodafone and Verizon Communications (VZ.N: Quote, Profile, Research), is
poised to let rivals of Amazon's (AMZN.O: Quote, Profile, Research) popular electronic Kindle reader use
its network to download material such as books and newspapers wirelessly,
according to an executive for the wireless service provider. [ID:nN06446982]

BP (BP.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The oil major appointed the man who led negotiations with its oligarch
partners in Russian joint venture TNK-BP (TNBPI.RTS: Quote, Profile, Research) as head of its U.S. unit.
[ID:nL626291]

BLUE OAR BLUE.L, EVOLVE (EVOLV.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

Investment firm Evolve Capital called for an extraordinary shareholder
meeting to oust the directors of takeover target Blue Oar, the small cap
investment bank. [ID:nL635600]

LADBROKES (LAD.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

Gaming company Ladbrokes breached advertising standards in television
commercials for its online casino which showed daredevil characters leaping to
their deaths, Britain's advertising regulator said. [ID:nL6680008]

BELLWAY (BWY.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

Housebuilder Bellway is set to defy a powerful investor body by pressing
ahead with plans to pay out huge bonuses to directors, the Daily Mail reported.

GREGGS (GRG.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The baker is due to issue its trading update.

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

> Financial Times [PRESS/FT]

> Other business headlines [PRESS/GB]

(Reporting by Dominic Lau)