ZURICH, May 24 (Reuters) - The Swiss blue-chip SMI .SSMI was seen opening 0.3 percent higher at 8,817 points on Thursday, according to premarket indications by bank Julius Baer JBPRE01 .
Here are some of the main factors that may affect Swiss stocks:
UBS UBSG.S
UBS has appointed leaders for its Greater China business which is being formed by merging its China-focused investment banking teams, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Thursday. NOVN.S
The Swiss drugmaker said its Sandoz division received approval from the European Commission for its biosimilar Zessly (infliximab) in gastroenterological, rheumatological and dermatological diseases.
For more, click on NOVN.S
VONTOBEL VONN.S , RAIFFEISEN SCHWEIZ RFSHW.UL
Swiss private bank and asset manager Vontobel is buying private bank Notenstein La Roche from Swiss cooperative bank Raiffeisen for 700 million Swiss francs ($705.08 million), the two parties said on Thursday.
For more, click on VONN.S
COMPANY STATEMENTS CPR-CH
* Aryzta ARYN.S said it lowered its expectations for full-year 2018 earnings before interest tax depreciation amortisation (EBITDA) by 9-12 percent after third-quarter EBITDA margins did not meet management expectations. It also announced plans for reduce costs by 200 million euros over three years. ARYN.S
* Bell Food Group BELL.S said it holds 98.09 percent of Huegli HUE.S shares after its public tender offer. BELL.S
* Landis+Gyr LANDI.S and Pacific Equity Partners announced a joint venture to acquire metering business Acumen from Origin Energy Limited ORG.AX . The joint venture has raised over 500 million Australian dollars ($378.35 million) to finance the rollout of smart meters in Australia. LANDI.S
* SHL Telemedicine SHLTN.S said it appointed Hava Shechter as a new Board Member, effective immediately. SHLTN.S
* WISeKey WIHN.S announced a partnership with smartphone manufacturer Highscreen International to develop WISePhone, a secure Blockchain mobile phone. WIHN.S
* Ypsomed YPSN.S said net profit rose 13 percent to 52.1 million Swiss francs in 2017/18. YPSN.S
* Zur Rose ROSEG.S said its DocMorris pharmacy will cooperate with omnichannel pharmacy apo-rot. ROSEG.S
ECONOMY M-CH
($1 = 1.3215 Australian dollars)