UK Stocks-Factors to watch on June 1 (updated)
UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on June 1 Adds news items, updates futures
June 1 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Monday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.53%.
* BP: BP BP.L said it agreed to sell 5% of its stake in the Browse liquefied natural gas project in Western Australia to South Korea's GS Energy [RIC:RIC:GSHOLE.UL].
Additionally, BP's recently ousted chairman Albert Manifold clashed with fellow director Simon Henry earlier this year over the handling of sensitive talks related to a potential deal, the Wall Street Journal reported.
* DRAX: Drax DRX.L said it had agreed to buy Bluefield Solar Income Fund BSIF.L in a deal that values the renewable energy-focused investment company at about £561 million ($755.3 million), including a permitted dividend.
* EASYJET: easyJet EZJ.L said it had not received any takeover interest from U.S.-based investment firm Castlelake, though it would consider any proposal should one be made.
* RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto RIO.L, RIO.AX said it has started commissioning its $1.5 billion low-carbon aluminium smelter expansion in the Canadian province of Quebec.
* PERSHING SQUARE: Universal Music Group's UMG.AS board unanimously rejected an unsolicited takeover proposal from Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management PSHP.L, saying it was not in the best interests of shareholders, artists, or the company.
* HOUSE PRICES: British house prices fell by 0.6% in May, their first monthly drop since December and growth slowed in annual terms, as economic uncertainty stemming from the war in Iran hurt demand, figures from Nationwide showed.
* UK BUSINESS: British businesses remain downbeat about the economic outlook for the months to come, according to a survey.
* COMMODITIES: Oil prices rose more than 2% on Monday, while gold inched lower, and London copper ticked higher.
* 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 Roshni Srivastava in Bengaluru)