BUZZ-Cruise & theme park operators: Yuan devaluation takes a toll

** Cruise operator Carnival (LSE: CCL.L - news) and Merlin, the world's second largest theme park operator behind Walt Disney, down 1-2 pct as companies seen likely to be hurt by a weaker Chinese yuan currency

** Tour co Thomas Cook (Xetra: A0MR3W - news) , in which China's Fosun International owns a 5 pct stake, also down 0.4 pct

** Traders say China news is having a sentimental impact on stocks

** Spending by Chinese tourists, the biggest buyers of luxury goods, jumped 67 pct in Q1, VAT refund company Global Blue (OTC BB: BUES - news) said in a report

** China devalued its currency on Tuesday after a run of poor economic data

** Sectors exposed to China - the world's biggest metals consumer and a big market for automobiles, luxury goods, oils and industrial goods - were worst hit

** According to the British Hospitality Association, China will be the largest outbound tourism economy in the world by 2023 (RM (LSE: RM.L - news) : aastha.agnihotri.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)