July 19 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 32
points higher at 7,525 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers.
* ULTRA ELECTRONICS: ERAPSCO, a joint venture between Sparton Corp and a
subsidiary of Ultra Electronics ULE.L , was awarded a $1.041 billion U.S.
defense contract on Thursday to produce air-launched, expendable sonobuoys used
in anti-submarine warfare, the Pentagon said. * OIL: Oil prices climbed around 2% on Friday after the U.S. Navy destroyed
an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz, a major chokepoint for global crude
flows, again raising tensions in the Middle East. * GOLD: Gold prices on Friday surpassed the key $1,450 level for the first
time since May 2013, after comments from a top Federal Reserve official
bolstered expectations of an interest rate cut, while fresh tensions in the
Middle East further supported bullion. * The UK blue chip index closed 0.5% lower on Thursday as initial batches of
corporate earnings jangled nerves over global growth, while losses for London's
mid-cap index were capped by a buyout of pub operator Ei Group. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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* UK CORPORATE DIARY:
SSP Group Plc SSPG.L Q3 Trading statement
Big Yellow Group Plc BYG.L Q1 Trading statement
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