LONDON, July 13 (Reuters) - * Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening up 26-28 points, or 0.5 percent, on Friday, according to financial bookmakers, with commodity stocks likely to be boosted by China Q2 growth data which met forecasts but fuelled expectations of more moves to stimulate the world's second largest economy. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on
* China saw growth of 7.6 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, bang in line with market expectations but the slowest pace since the January-March quarter of 2009 and the sixth consecutive quarter of slower growth.
* The UK blue chip index closed down 56.23 points, or 1.0 percent, at 5,608.25 on Thursday, as growth concerns and fading hopes for near-term U.S. monetary stimulus took their toll on investor sentiment.
* No important British economic data will be released on Friday, so investors will focus on a batch of U.S. pointers, with June producer prices scheduled for 1230 GMT, and the preliminary reading of the July Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey due at 1355 GMT.
* Banks will fall under the spotlight on Friday, with U.S. peers JPMorgan Chase & Co and Wells Fargo set to kick off the next round of earnings for the sector later in the day.
* LLOYDS BANKING GROUP is close to selling over 600 branches to the Co-operative Group at a steep discount to the previously mooted 1.5 billion-pound price tag, the Financial Times reported.
* ROYAL DUTCH SHELL - The five month takeover battle between the oil major and Thai firm PTT Exploration & Production for explorer Cove Energy COVE.L could be thrashed out in an auction process, under a ruling by Britain's Takeover Panel. [ID: nL6E8ID1DM
* EXPERIAN - The credit information firm reports first-quarter revenue growth of 14 percent.
* ELECTROCOMPONENTS - The electronics parts supplier says first-quarter group sales were at a similar level to last year.
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