(Adds futures, company news, updates snapshot table)

FRANKFURT, Nov 19 (Reuters) - European stock index futures pointed to a
firmer start on Wednesday after overnight gains for U.S. stocks led by computer
maker Hewlett-Packard (HPQ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) but losses in Asia linked to persistent recession
fears.

At 0735 GMT, futures for the Eurostoxx 50 STXEc1 were up 0.8 percent,
German DAX futures FDXc1 traded 0.9 percent higher and French CAC 40 futures
FCEc1 rose 0.3 percent.

"European equity markets are looking at a positive start," CMC Markets said
in a morning note.

"Concerns over the extent of the global economic slowdown continue to weigh
across the board for stocks -- something that will be played out with falling
commodity prices and continued pressure on banks and with those sectors being
relatively heavily weighted, it does seem as if the benchmark indices will
remain under pressure for some time yet," CMC Markets added.

Banks could be in focus after shares in U.S. Citigroup Inc (C.N: Quote, Profile, Research) at one
stage on Tuesday fell below $8 for the first time in 13 years and Bank of
America (BAC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) forecast record losses for the U.S. credit card industry.

Kenichi Watanabe, chief executive of Nomura Holdings Inc (8604.T: Quote, Profile, Research), Japan's
largest brokerage, said he expects consolidation of Japanese regional banks and
that tough business conditions could trigger cross-border M&A in the industry.

The day's top diary items are the minutes of the Bank of England's last
policy meeting, at 0930 GMT, and U.S. CPI for October, at 1330 GMT. After the
European markets' close, at 1900 GMT, the U.S. Federal Reserve will release the
minutes of the FOMC's Oct. 28/29 meeting.

* Wall St barrels back in late rally, led by HP [ID:nN18290831]
* Asia stocks sag as U.S. auto woes stir caution [ID:nHKG310040]
* Nikkei at 1-week closing low, automaker woes weigh [ID:nT338130]
* Economic worries send Bund futures to near 3-year high [ID:nLJ640826]
* Yen rises as global recession fears erode confidence [ID:nT348717]
* Gold edges up on oil, bargain hunting lifts platinum [ID:nSP65348]
* Oil steady above $54, eyes on U.S. stocks data [ID:nSP351587]

------------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT AT 0735 GMT-----------------------

LAST PCT CHG NET CHG
S&P 500 .SPX 859.12 0.98 % 8.37
NIKKEI .N225 8,273.22 -0.66 % -55.19
MSCI ASIA EX-JP .MIASJ0000PUS 250.13 -0.52 % -1.31
EUR/USD EUR= 1.2633 0.13 % 0.0016
USD/JPY JPY= 96.71 -0.36 % -0.3500
10-YR US TSY YLD US10YT=RR 3.507 -- -0.02
10-YR BUND YLD EU10YT=RR 3.661 -- 0.02
SPOT GOLD XAU= $739.00 0.30 % $2.30
US CRUDE CLc1 $54.38 -0.02 % -$0.01

COMPANIES

FORTIS (FOR.AS: Quote, Profile, Research)(FOR.BR: Quote, Profile, Research)

A Brussels court rejected a challenge to Fortis brought by shareholders
opposing the sale of Fortis to BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research). Court appoints expert
panel to review the carve-up.

DEUTSCHE BANK (DBKGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research)

CEO Josef Ackermann sees his bank emerging stronger from the financial
crisis. Deutsche Bank was profiting from the "flight to quality" of nervous
consumers in the face of market turbulences, he said. [ID:nLJ253092]

UBS (UBSN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research)

UBS said it has hired six executives for its Asian wealth management arm, as
it looks to retain its lead position in the region even as the global financial
crisis slams the industry.

AEGON (AEGN.AS: Quote, Profile, Research)

Aegon said that while it may be eligible for TARP funding, it has no need
for additional capital beyond the 3 billion euros injection agreed with the
Dutch government last month.

SWISS LIFE (SLHN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research)

Switzerland's third-biggest insurer will cut jobs next year in a bid to cut
costs, CEO Bruno Pfister told Swiss newspaper Handelszeitung in an interview.

VOLKSWAGEN (VOWG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research)

The head of VW's China operations expects a tough first half next year.
[ID:nLI109635]

RENAULT SA (RENA.PA: Quote, Profile, Research)

Nissan Motor Co (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research) Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said the Japanese
carmaker's profits would likely fall to "zero" in the October-March second half
amid a sharp downturn in global car markets. [ID:nT350748]

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

Britain's biggest clothing retailer will hold a one-day 20-percent-off sale
on Wednesday to stimulate flagging revenue, the Financial Times reported.

ANGLO AMERICAN (AAL.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

De Beers -- 45 percent owned by Anglo American -- expects to cut back output
at its two new Canadian mines by 10 to 20 percent because of a recent drop in
demand, De Beers Canada Chief executive said on Tuesday. [ID:nN18284087]

ALITALIA AZPla.MI

Special administrator Augusto Fantozzi wants the CAI consortium to increase
the cash component of its offer for Alitalia to 400 million from 275 million
euros, Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper said. Industry Minister Claudio Scajola will
likely approve the sale of the struggling carrier to CAI on Wednesday, several
newspapers reported. Corriere said CAI's offer includes 285 million euros in
cash.

UNIBAIL-RODAMCO (UNBP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research)

The chairman and chief executive of Europe's biggest real estate group,
Guillaume Poitrinal, told Les Echos newspaper there was no slowdown in activity
in big commercial centres.

INBEV NV INTB.BR

InBev closed its purchase of U.S. brewer Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc (BUD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) to
create the world's largest brewer in the biggest cash acquisition in history,
despite a global financial crisis that has stymied other deals.

(Reporting by Peter Starck)