European Factors to Watch-Shares seen higher, focus on miners

(Adds futures prices, company news)

LONDON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - European shares headed for a stronger start on the first trading day of the month, tracking sharp gains in Asian equities, with mining shares seen getting support from a rally in metals prices following a weaker dollar.

Futures for the Euro STOXX 50 .STXEc1 , Germany's DAX FDXc1 , France's CAC FCEc1 and Britain's FTSE FFIc1 rose 0.3 to 0.6 percent by 0711 GMT.

Focus will be on commodities stocks after prices of key industrial metals rose due to a weaker dollar, making raw materials cheaper for holders of other currencies.

Investors will keep a close eye on automobile stocks after data showed new car registrations in France rose 11.3 percent last month.

COMPANY NEWS

ACCORHOTELS ACCP.PA

Europe's largest hotel group, AccorHotels ACCP.PA, said on Tuesday that it bought three hotel asset portfolios from European investors for 284 million euros ($300.6 million).

PSA PEUGEOT CITROEN PEUP.PA , RENAULT RENA.PA

French new car registrations rose 11.3 percent in November for a 6.2 percent increase over the first 11 months of the year, the CCFA automobile association said. ID:nFWN13P081

RENAULT RENA.PA

Japanese carmaker Nissan 7201.T is not planning to issue new stock, a spokesman for the Japanese carmaker said, denying a report by Japan's Nikkei . He added that Renault 's alliance partner had "nothing more to announce" regarding the outcome of a board meeting the previous day.

Japan urged Nissan and Renault to continue their alliance amid speculation that the Japanese automaker may raise its stake in Renault to fend off French government moves to increase its control over the partnership.

ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV ABI.BR , SABMILLER SAB.L

The brewer's bid to buy its biggest rival, SABMiller SAB.L , will be the subject of a U.S. Senate hearing next week, the Senate Judiciary Committee said.

ELECTROLUX ELUXb.ST

Sweden's Electrolux on Monday forecast growing demand for home appliances on both sides of the North Atlantic next year and said low raw material costs were expected to continue offering a tailwind in 2016.

LINDE LING.DE

The industrial gases company cut its 2017 profit target, citing slower industrial production growth weighing on its industrial gases unit.

SNAM SRG.MI , STATOIL STL.OL

Snam SRG.MI has agreed to buy a 20 percent stake in the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) that will carry gas from Azerbaijan to Europe from Norway's Statoil STL.OL, the Italian gas infrastructure company said on Tuesday.

VOLKSWAGEN VOWG_p.DE

The carmaker and the U.S. Justice Department want a U.S. judicial panel to centralize in Detroit hundreds of civil lawsuits alleging the German automaker defrauded consumers and shareholders, according to court filings.

SAFRAN SAF.PA

France sold a 2.64 percent stake, or 11 million shares, in the French aerospace group for 753.5 million euros, state holding company APE said.

ADIDAS ADSGn.DE

Online sales at the sportswear maker are growing strong, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported on Tuesday, citing company sources. Internet revenues rose by 40 percent in 2015 so far, the daily said.

BMW

The carmaker doesn't see impact from the VW emissions scandal on client demand at this point, "Handelsblatt" reported, citing an interview with CEO Harald Krueger.

ZURICH INSURANCE ZURN.VX

The Swiss insurer said its Chief Executive Officer Martin Senn was stepping down, with Chairman Tom de Swaan to take over on an interim basis as the company seeks a permanent replacement. The company reconfirmed its 2014-2016 targets. Shares were seen opening up 0.2 percent in premarket indicators.

RWE RWEG.DE

The utility has settled out of court damage claims it faced from oil and gas companies Dana Gas DANA.AD and Crescent Petroleum in connection with operations in Iraqi Kurdistan, the utility and Dana Gas said on Monday.

ALMIRALL ALM.MC

Almirall says acquisition of Poli Group will significantly contribute to adjusted earnings per share (EPS) in the first year.

IBERDROLA IBE.MC

A Spanish regulator said on Monday it would fine a subsidiary of power company Iberdrola 25 million euros over the price it charged for electricity from several hydroelectric plants in late 2013.

LUFTHANSA LHAG.DE

The airline's cargo unit plans to reduce its personnel and services costs by 40 million euros by 2018, Frankfurter Rundschau reported on Tuesday.

THYSSENKRUPP TKAG.DE

Germany's Thyssenkrupp held out the prospect of thousands of new Australian jobs as it submitted a bid for a $36 billion submarine project on Monday.