UK Stocks-Factors to watch on August 12 (updated)
UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on August 12 Adds news items, updates futures
Aug 12 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Wednesday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.2%.
* HSBC: HSBC's<HSBA.L> global chief executive for insurance business, Edward Moncreiffe, is set to leave the bank after two decades with the lender, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.
* BALFOUR BEATTY: Balfour Beatty BALF.L raisedits annual operating profit forecast on Wednesday, citing strong demand for infrastructure projects in the United States and UK.
* BUSINESS COSTS: Britain's government will do what it can to help lower costs for business, but against the backdrop of a "difficult financial outlook", Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in an interview.
* OIL: Oil prices rose as doubts about a U.S.-Iran peace deal and attacks on two ships fuelled concerns about Middle East supply disruptions, even as industry data showed U.S. crude inventories expanded.
* GOLD: Gold rose nearly 1%, supported by reduced bets on Federal Reserve tightening next month as investors awaited key U.S. inflation data that could reshape policy expectations.
* METALS: Copper edged up as a temporary shutdown at a major Indonesian smelter added to the pressure on global red metal stocks, while investors prepared to parse through key U.S. inflation data.
* 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 Simone Lobo and Megha Kumari in Bengaluru; Editing by Ronojoy Mazumdar)
((Simone.Lobo@thomsonreuters.com, +919920570373))