UK Stocks-Factors to watch on July 16
UK Stocks-Factors to watch on July 16 July 16 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.3%.
* BRITISH STEEL: The British government took British Steel into public ownership to protect UK steel production.
* ROTORK: ABB ABBN.S announced its biggest-ever acquisition with a $5.5 billion deal to buy Rotork ROR.L.
* BP: BP BP.L is proposing to close its venturing arm and has reached an agreement to sell minority interests in more than 10 companies in the portfolio to investment firm Verdane.
* DCC: The Takeover Panel extended the deadline for a KKR and Energy Capital Partners consortium to make a firm takeover offer for DCC to July 16.
* BRIDGEPOINT: Bridgepoint BPTB.L has agreed to acquire a majority stake in German lab-testing firm GBA Group from Ardian, valuing the company at over €1 billion.
* FINANCE MINISTER: Andy Burnham is set to name interior minister Shabana Mahmood as his finance minister when he becomes Britain's prime minister next week, the Financial Times reported.
* OIL: Oil prices turned lower as traders took profits and assessed risks from new U.S. strikes on Iranian military installations and potential supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
* GOLD: Gold prices fell on Thursday as the escalating Middle East conflict fuelled concerns that surging oil prices could lead to interest rate hikes.
* METALS: Nickel rose nearly 2% as concerns over disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz raised fears of sulphur supply shortages.
* The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed down 0.1% on Wednesday, as weaker metals and oil prices hit commodity stocks, while Middle East tensions weighed on sentiment.
* UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Frasers | FRAS.L | FY results |
Ocado Group | OCDO.L | HY results |
Diploma | DPLM.L | Q3 trading statement |
Experian | EXPN.L | Q1 trading statement |
SSE | SSE.L | Q1 trading statement |
McBride | MCB.L | FY trading statement |
QinetiQ Group | QQ.L | Q1 trading statement |
DFS Furniture | DFSD.L | FY trading statement |
Premier Foods | PFD.L | Q1 trading statement |
Crest Nicholson Holdings | CRST.L | HY results |
Trustpilot | TRST.L | HY Trading statement |
Dunelm | DNLM.L | Q4 trading statement |
Funding Circle Holdings | FCH.L | HY trading statement |
* 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 Anushka Chourasia in Bengaluru)