UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Thursday, Feb 26

LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening down 12 to 14 points, or 0.2 percent lower on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on ID:nL5N0W00TA

* The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed down 14.25 points, or 0.2 percent at 6,935.38 points after setting a new record high of 6,958.89 points on Tuesday. ID:nL5N0VZ55P

* HSBC HSBA.L - The UK tax authority said prosecuting and regulatory agencies would meet next week to discuss leaks of account information from clients who used a Swiss subsidiary of HSBC bank to evade tax. ID:nL5N0VZ5O8

* RBS RBS.L - Royal Bank of Scotland (LONDON:RBS) Group PLC (LONDON:RBS) is set to confirm the appointment of Howard Davies as its new chairman on Thursday, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. ID:nL1N0VZ35S

* ASTRAZENECA AZN.L - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the use of Actavis Plc's ACT.N antibiotic, Avycaz, which is being co-developed with AstraZeneca, to battle drug-resistant bacteria known as superbugs. ID:nL4N0VZ4SZ

* DEFENCE FIRMS - Companies which do not face an open competition for British defence contracts will be subject to greater scrutiny over costs under new plans to boost efficiency, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon will say on Thursday. ID:nL5N0VZ4DG

* ROYAL DUTCH SHELL RDSa.L - The largest U.S. refinery strike since 1980 continued through its 25th day on Wednesday with no movement toward renewed talks to end a walkout by 6,550 union workers at 15 plants, including 12 refineries accounting for one-fifth of domestic capacity. ID:nL1N0VZ3CI

* SKY SKY.L - Sky Sports has agreed to a four-year deal to broadcast live Major League Soccer, the British broadcaster and North American league said on Wednesday. ID:nL4N0VZ3VF

* British consumers have turned more upbeat as faster pay growth and very low inflation make them more confident about their finances, a poll showed on Thursday, little more than two months before a national election. ID:nL5N0VZ5AW

* EX-DIVIDENDS - Diageo DGE.L and easyJet EZJ.L trade without entitlement to their latest dividend payout on Thursday, trimming 2.57 points off the FTSE 100 index. ID:nL5N0VX2UA

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

Jupiter Fund Management PLC JUP.L

Full Year 2014 Jupiter Fund

Management PLC Earnings

Release Reed Elsevier PLC

REL.L

Full Year 2014 Reed

Elsevier PLC Earnings

Release Premier Oil PLC

PMO.L

Full Year 2014 Premier Oil

PLC Earnings Release Ladbrokes PLC

LAD.L

Full Year 2014 Ladbrokes

PLC Earnings Release British American Tobacco

BATS.L

Full Year 2014 British PLC

American Tobacco PLC

Earnings Release RSA Insurance Group PLC

RSA.L

Full Year 2014 RSA

Insurance Group PLC

Earnings Release Spirent Communications plc

SPT.L

Preliminary FY 2014 Spirent

Communications plc Earnings

Release Colt Group SA

COLT.L

Full Year 2014 Colt Group

SA Earnings Release Bodycote PLC

BOY.L

Full Year 2014 Bodycote PLC

Earnings Release STV Group PLC

STVG.L

Full Year 2014 STV Group

PLC Earnings Release Howden Joinery Group PLC

HWDN.L

Full Year 2014 Howden

Joinery Group PLC Earnings

Release Interserve PLC

IRV.L

Full Year 2014 Interserve

PLC Earnings Release Synthomer PLC

SYNTS.L

Full Year 2014 Synthomer

PLC Earnings Release RPS Group PLC

RPS.L

Full Year 2014 RPS Group

PLC Earnings Release Capita PLC

CPI.L

Full Year 2014 Capita PLC

Earnings Release Photo-Me International PLC

PHTM.L

Photo-Me International PLC

Trading Statement Release Domino's Pizza Group PLC

DOM.L

Full Year 2014 Domino's

Pizza Group PLC Earnings

Release Redde PLC

REDD.L

Half Year 2015 Redde PLC

Earnings Release Xchanging PLC

XCH.L

Full Year 2014 Xchanging

PLC Earnings Release Capital & Counties

CAPCC.L

Full Year 2014 Capital & Properties PLC

Counties Properties PLC

Earnings Release Merlin Entertainments PLC

MERL.L

Full Year 2014 Merlin

Entertainments PLC Earnings

Release Kennedy Wilson Europe Real

KWE.L

Full Year 2014 Kennedy Estate PLC

Wilson Europe Real Estate

PLC Earnings Release Royal Bank of Scotland

RBS.L

Full Year 2014 Royal Bank Group PLC

of Scotland Group PLC

Earnings Release National Express Group PLC

NEX.L

Full Year 2014 National

Express Group PLC Earnings

Release Derwent London PLC

DLN.L

Full Year 2014 Derwent

London PLC Earnings Release Countrywide PLC

CWD.L

Full Year 2014 Countrywide

PLC Earnings Release KAZ Minerals PLC

KAZ.L

Full Year 2014 KAZ Minerals

PLC Earnings Release Robert Walters Plc

RWA.L

Full Year 2014 Robert

Walters Plc Earnings

Release Guinness Peat Group PLC

GPG.L

Preliminary 2014 Guinness

Peat Group PLC Earnings

Release Pantheon International

PANI.L

Half Year 2015 Pantheon Participations PLC

International

Participations PLC Earnings

Release

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

> Financial Times

PRESS/FT

> Other business headlines

PRESS/GB 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