UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Oct 18

Oct 18 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening 23 points higher on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers. * SAINSBURY'S: Sainsbury's, Britain's second biggest supermarket group behind Tesco, is seeking to cut up to 2,000 jobs mainly in its payroll and human resources departments, a company spokesman said on Tuesday. * RIO TINTO: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said it charged mining company Rio Tinto Plc and two of its former top executives o