May 31 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100  .FTSE  index is seen 26 points lower
at 7,192 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers. 
    
    * HSBC: HSBC  HSBA.L  is set to cut several hundred jobs in its investment
banking business by the end of the year, according to a source familiar with the
matter, as it seeks to improve returns.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2363XI
    * GOLD: Gold prices rose on Friday, heading towards their first monthly gain
since January on increased safe-haven demand, after U.S. President Donald Trump
vowed to levy tariffs on all Mexican imports, ratcheting up concerns of a global
economic slowdown.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2370PY
    * OIL: Oil prices fell on Friday and were on track for their biggest monthly
fall since November as trade conflicts spread and U.S. crude output returned to
record levels.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2370RB
    * The UK blue chip index rose 0.5% on Thursday as the pound slipped on
concerns that outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May's successor might push for a
hard Brexit, helping more internationally focused stocks gain.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N23616L
    * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
 LIVE/ 
    
    * UK CORPORATE DIARY:    
 DCD Media PLC               DCD.L    Full Year 2018 Earnings
 Charles Stanley Group PLC   CAY.L    Full Year 2019 Earnings
    TODAY'S UK PAPERS
    > Financial Times                       PRESS/FT 
    > Other business headlines              PRESS/GB 

 (Reporting by Tanishaa Nadkar in Bengaluru)
 ((tanishaa.nadkar@thomsonreuters.com; Within UK +44 20 7542 1810; Outside UK
+91 80 6749 1691; Reuters Messaging:
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