April 29 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is
seen opening higher on Monday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.53%.
* ANGLO AMERICAN: BHP Group BHP.AX is considering making
an improved offer for Anglo American AAL.L after its $39
billion initial proposal was rejected by the London-listed
miner, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
* HIPGNOSIS: Private equity giant Blackstone BX.N is
preparing to lodge an improved bid for Hipgnosis Songs Fund
SONG.L , which owns the music rights of artists including
Shakira and Blondie, Sky News reported on Sunday.
* IAG: EU antitrust regulators on Friday warned that British
Airways owner IAG's ICAG.L bid to secure full control of Air
Europa may reduce competition and lead to price increases.
* MOTOR INSURANCE: The cost of car insurance in the UK rose
1% in the first quarter, a survey showed, indicating an easing
in the rise of premium seen last year.
* OIL: Oil prices fell in early Asian trading erasing gains
from Friday as Israel-Hamas peace talks in Cairo eased fears of
a wider conflict in the Middle East and U.S. inflation data
further dimmed the prospects of interest rate cuts anytime soon.
* METALS: Prices of copper opened the week higher driven by
dwindling raw material supply and investors' focus on a
potential BHP Group-Anglo American deal that would make the
world's largest copper miner.
* FTSE: Britain's benchmark FTSE 100 scored its fourth
consecutive record high on Friday as strong earnings from U.S.
tech giants buoyed investor sentiment, while cybersecurity firm
Darktrace rallied following a buyout deal by private equity firm
Thoma Bravo.
* UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Beazley BEZG.L Q1 trading update
* 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
(Reporting by Prerna Bedi in Bengaluru)
((Prerna.Bedi@thomsonreuters.com; +91 98052 24616;))