UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Oct 13 (updated)

Activision Blizzard

13/10/2023 07:45

(Adds new items, updates futures)
       Oct 13 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100  .FTSE  index is
seen opening lower on Friday, with futures  FFIc1  down 0.11%.
    
    * CMA: Britain's antitrust regulator cleared Microsoft's
 MSFT.O  acquisition of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard
 ATVI.O  after the restructured deal substantially addressed its
earlier concerns.
        * ASHMORE: Emerging markets-focused fund manager Ashmore
 ASHM.L  said assets under management declined in the three
months to September 30, amid subdued market conditions due to
weaker China economic data and high interest rates.
        * CREST NICHOLSON: UK housebuilder Crest Nicholson
 CRST.L  named William Floydd as its finance director, effective
Nov. 13.
        * BANKS: Big banks in Britain are 
    preparing for any future escalation
     of Western sanctions on China and have shared their
"scenario planning" with the British and U.S. governments, a
senior banking official has told Reuters.
  
    * BROOKS MACDONALD: Brooks Macdonald  BRK.L  is working with
a defence adviser on its strategy amid takeover interest, three
people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
    *  BATS: The U.S. health regulator blocked the sale of six
flavored e-cigarette products by British American Tobacco
(BAT)-owned  BATS.L  R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company under its Vuse
Alto brand.
    * OIL: Oil prices rose after the U.S. tightened its
sanctions programme against Russian crude exports, raising
supply concerns in an already tight market, and global
inventories are forecast to decline through the fourth quarter.
    * GOLD: Gold edged up and was set for its best week in seven
months, deriving support from tensions in the Middle East and
expectations that U.S. interest rates may have peaked, as
markets assess latest inflation data.
    * METALS: London copper prices advanced as a softer dollar
made greenback-priced metals cheaper to holders of other
currencies, but were on track for a weekly decline.
     
    * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please
click on:  LIVE/     
    TODAY'S UK PAPERS
    > Financial Times                       PRESS/FT 
    > Other business headlines              PRESS/GB 

 (Reporting by Radhika Anilkumar and Zainab Saifuddin Saifee in
Bengaluru)
 ((Radhika.Anilkumar@thomsonreuters.com;))