UK Stocks-Factors to watch on October 30 (updated)
UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on October 30 Adds new items, updates futures
Oct 30 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Friday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.3%.
* NATWEST: NatWest NWG.L on Friday reported third-quarter profit flat versus the year before, as it grew lending while maintaining deposit margins in the face of increasing competition
* BP: BP BP.L posted third-quarter underlying replacement cost profit, its version of net income, of $8.46 billion on Friday, compared with expectations of $7.33 billion in a company-provided poll of analysts and $2.2 billion a year ago.
* ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca AZN.L on Friday announced a restructuring programme aimed at supporting pipeline investments with benefits of about $1.5 billion.
* TESCO: Britain's Tesco TSCO.L said on Friday it will sell its businesses in the Czech Republic and Slovakia for an enterprise value of €1.7 billion ($1.90 billion) to Ahold Delhaize
* MOBICO GROUP: Spanish transport company Autobuses De Leon on Friday made an offer to buy Mobico Group MCG.L for an enterprise value of about £2.32 billion ($3.10 billion).
* UK'S DEFENCE SUPPLIERS: Britain will require overseas defence suppliers winning selected military contracts worth more than £50 million ($67 million) to deliver jobs, investment, skills or other economic benefits in the UK, under a new policy announced on Friday.
* INFLATION: The British public's expectations for future inflation fell for the first time in two months in October, though this was unlikely to stop the Bank of England hiking rates next week, analysts at Citi said.
* EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK: The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged in a well-telegraphed move but clearly hinted at another hike in December with a warning that high and rising energy costs were fuelling inflation risks.
* UK'S BUDGET: British finance minister John Healey's first budget passed with barely a ripple in financial markets, a contrast with the leaks of sensitive details, U-turns and jitters for bond investors that marked the run-up to his predecessor's budget a year ago.
* RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto RIO.AX, RIO.L on Friday said it had paused underground operations at its Oyu Tolgoi copper project in Mongolia.
* COMMODITIES: Oil prices fell, Gold prices slipped,copper drifted lower on Friday
* 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
(Compiled by Tuhina in Bengaluru)