LONDON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening up as much as 1.9 percent on Monday for a fifth straight session of gains, according to financial bookmakers, tracking a rise in Asian markets on optimism that measures by governments are starting to calm nervous markets.
Financial bookmakers expected the UK benchmark index to open up 78 to 84 points after closing up 2 percent on Friday. The FTSE 100 had gained 12.7 percent last week -- its strongest week on record though it lost 10.7 percent last month.
The Bank of England and the European Central Bank are expected to cut interest rates this week, following last week's reductions from China, India, Japan and the United States.
In Asia, South Korea's KOSPI advanced 1.4 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 5.3 percent.
GOLD RISES 1 PCT AS OIL BOUNCES, EURO STRENGTHENS
UK stocks to watch on Monday are:
LLOYDS TSB, HBOS
Lloyds, the bank which has agreed to take over HBOS, could face competition from the founder of HBOS's Internet banking unit who is working on a rival bid, Sunday Times newspaper reported.
KINGFISHER
Kingfisher, Europe's top home improvement retailer, plans to double its Polish business over five years, saying the return of over a million migrants will help limit the impact of a global recession there.
The retailer also said it expects no growth in the British market over the next year but believes it can grab market share from distressed rivals.
HSBC
Banking conditions are stabilising but credit will remain tight for some time and there may yet be more shocks to the financial system, a top executive at HSBC told Reuters on Sunday.
BT GROUP
BT plans to make large-scale reforms to its 35 billion pounds ($56.95 billion) pension scheme following last week's shock profit warning, the Sunday Times newspaper reported.
RIO TINTO, BHP BILLITON
Rio Tinto sees most of its projects in a strong position to weather any economic scenario, with its new ilmenite project on track to produce in 2008, it said on Sunday.
Separately, the Sunday Times said European regulators could threaten to stop the proposed takeover of Rio by BHP Billiton because of the dominance the pair have over the world's iron ore supply.
HAMMERSON
The property group has put two of its biggest retail projects on hold as prospects of a recession rise, the Mail on Sunday newspaper reported.
CENTRICA
Centrica will take delivery of the biggest cargo of liquefied natural gas ever to come to Britain when the Al Khuwair arrives from Qatar this month, the owner of British Gas said on Sunday.
CADBURY
Shares in Cadbury could rise to the mid-$50s by 2010 as the company's makeover takes hold, according to Barron's.
DAILY MAIL & GENERAL TRUST
Newspaper group Daily Mail & General Trust is considering a bid for the Independent and its Sunday sister title, part of Independent News & Media, the Observer newspaper reported.
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
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(Reporting by Dominic Lau; editing by John Stonestreet) Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: * 3000 Xtra : visit http://topnews.session.rservices.com * BridgeStation: view story .134 For more information on Top News visit http://topnews.reuters.com Keywords: MARKETS BRITAIN FACTORS
(dominic.lau@reuters.com; +44 20 7542 5440; Reuters Messaging: dominic.lau.reuters.com@reuters.net)
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