UK Stocks-Factors to watch on August 13 (updated)
UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on August 13 Adds new items and updates futures
Aug 13 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index seen opening higher on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.3%.
* ANTOFAGASTA: Antofagasta ANTO.L posted a 27% increase in half-year core earnings as high prices for energy transition material copper offset lower production, but cut its 2026 output forecast following a shutdown at one of its mines.
* ENTAIN: Entain ENT.L beat first-half profit expectations, as group-wide cost cuts and a surge in player engagement during the FIFA World Cup helped it absorb the impact of higher UK gambling taxes.
* ECONOMY: Britain's economy unexpectedly grew in June as companies were boosted by a respite in the surge in energy prices caused by the Iran war, the start of the men's soccer World Cup and hot weather, official data showed.
* OFWAT: Ofwat provisionally approved funding of up to £3.4 billion for 13 water utilities, clearing projects aimed at upgrading infrastructure and supporting new housing and data centre development.
* HOUSE PRICES: Britain's housing market remained sluggish last month but there was a recovery in confidence about the sales outlook, a survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors showed.
* COMMODITIES: Oil prices dipped, gold edged lower, while copper and the broader industrial metals complex slipped.
* EX-DIVS: HSBC Holdings HSBA.L, Rio Tinto RIO.L, BP BP.L, NatWest NWG.L, LSEG LSEG.L, Haleon HLN.L, Fresnillo FRES.L, Rentokil Initial RTO.L, Imi IMI.L, Pearson PSON.L, Melrose MRON.L, Babcock International BAB.L, Hiscox HSX.L, IG Group IGG.L, Tritax Big Box BBOXT.L, Hikma HIK.L, will trade without entitlement to their latest dividend pay-out on Thursday.
* 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 Neeshita Beura in Bengaluru)