UPDATE 1-Hedge fund Kintbury takes short position in BT Adds BT's response in paragraph 3 By Nell Mackenzie LONDON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Ex Millennium trader and founder of hedge fund Kintbury Capital, Chris Dale, says he is short British telecommunications company BT BT.L . Dale told attendees at the Sohn conference in London that the debt levels of the company were rising and its decision to reinstate dividends would cost the company.

EUROPE RESEARCH ROUNDUP-Air France-KLM, Boliden AB, Continental AG Dec 7 (Reuters) - Securities analysts revised their ratings and price targets on several European companies, including Air France-KLM, Boliden AB and Continental AG on Thursday. HIGHLIGHTS * Air France-KLM AIRF.PA : JP Morgan cuts to underweight from overweight * Boliden AB BOL.ST : Morgan Stanley cuts to underweight from equal-weight * Continental AG CONG.DE : HSBC cuts to hold from buy * Deutsche Lufthansa AG LHAG.DE : JP Morga

UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Dec. 7 Dec 7 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index .FTSE is expected to open lower on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.59%. * BAT : British American Tobacco's BATS.L admission that its U.S. cigarette brands will be worthless within decades has ramped up pressure on the company to prove it can better compete in alternatives like vapes.

Hedge fund Kintbury takes short position in BT LONDON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Ex Millennium trader and founder of hedge fund Kintbury Capital, Chris Dale says he is short the British telecommunications company, BT BT.L . Dale told attendees at the Sohn conference in London that the debt levels of the company are rising and that its decision to reinstate dividends would cost the company.

UPDATE 1-HSBC tests protecting FX trading from quantum computer attacks Adds Amazon Web Services quote in paragraph 14 By Sinead Cruise and Lawrence White LONDON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - HSBC HSBA.L has completed what it says is the world's first trial of a tool designed to protect highly sensitive financial data from cyber criminals seeking to harness the power of next-generation quantum computers to launch future attacks.