UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Feb 18

(Adds futures, company news items) Feb 18 (Reuters) - Futures Britain's FTSE 100 index were up 0.4 percent at 0738 GMT on Thursday. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on * The UK blue chip index closed 2.9 percent higher on Wednesday at 6,030.32, rallying for a fourth straight session as appetite grew for underperformers in the mining sector, led by a surge in miner Glencore. Glencore soared 16.6 percent, touching its highest level since November.