UK Stocks-Factors to watch on September 18 (updated)
UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on September 18 Adds new items, updates futures
Sept 18 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Friday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.2%.
* RETAIL SALES: British retail sales showed a surprise increase of 0.5% in August despite the latest jump in fuel prices caused by the resumption of the Iran war, official figures showed.
* DEBENHAMS: British fashion retailer Debenhams DEBS.L said Iain McDonald has returned to its board as chair, replacing Tim Morris.
* HARWORTH GROUP: Harworth Group HWG.L rejected a sweetened £599.77 million ($801.5 million) takeover offer from its largest shareholder, Peel Holdings.
* SHELL: Partners in the Shell-led SHEL.L LNG Canada export project could reach a final investment decision on its Phase 2 expansion as early as next month, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
* BP: BP BP.L said representatives from its 440,000 barrel-per-day oil refinery in Whiting, Indiana, and United Steelworkers union Local 7-1 will meet again next Tuesday.
* SOFTCAT: Softcat SCTS.L said it had agreed to buy U.S.-based GDT at an enterprise value of $1.05 billion.
* AIRTEL AFRICA: Airtel Africa's AAF.L Airtel Money is considering downsizing its London IPO, which could launch as soon as next week, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
* THAMES WATER: The British government should reject a creditor bid for Thames Water and put the embattled utility into temporary public ownership, a committee of lawmakers said.
* INDUSTRY: British finance minister John Healey will urge European Union counterparts to ensure Britain is not excluded from the bloc's planned "Made in Europe" industrial policy, the Financial Times reported.
* COMMODITIES: Oil prices fell for a third day, copper was set to end the week higher, and gold inched higher.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
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(Compiled by Neeshita Beura in Bengaluru)