(Adds company news items, futures)
July 23 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 27
points higher at 7,542 on Tuesday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures FFIc1 up 0.42% ahead of the cash market open.
* BEAZLEY: Lloyd's of London insurer Beazley Plc BEZG.L said on Tuesday
its first-half earnings nearly tripled from last year, as it wrote more policies
at higher rates and said it expects double-digit premium growth over the year.
* IQE: Britain's IQE Plc IQE.L warned its sale volumes had been hit by the
trade war between Beijing and Washington, but said it was still receiving orders
from multiple customers in Asia. * IG GROUP: Online trading platform IG Group Holdings IGG.L on Tuesday
reported a slump of almost a third in its earnings for the year, hit by Europe's
clampdown on the provision of access to high-stakes financial betting to amateur
traders. * PARAGON: Specialist lender Paragon Banking PARA.L on Tuesday reported a
20% jump in new lending in the first nine months of 2019 and stuck by its
financial outlook for the whole year, while saying it was keeping a tight rein
on risk due to political uncertainties.
* BRITISH AIRWAYS: British Airways pilots have voted overwhelmingly for
strike action in a pay dispute that could disrupt the British flag carrier's
peak summer holiday season. * INMARSAT: Britain said on Monday it would scrutinise the acquisition of
satellite communications firm Inmarsat ISA.L by a private equity-led
consortium to examine any potential impact on national security. * DEBENHAMS/SPORTS DIRECT: British department store group Debenhams said
former shareholder Sports Direct SPD.L had withdrawn from a challenge to its
rescue plan because it did not have sufficient legal grounds, but the sports
retailer would continue to fund the action. * HEATHROW AIRPORT: Campaigners against the expansion of Heathrow Airport
have won the right to lodge a new legal challenge against the construction of a
new runway at Europe's biggest airport, Greenpeace, one of the appellants, said
on Monday. * LLOYDS BANKING GROUP: Lloyds Banking Group PLC LLOY.L will pay about
140 million pounds to Standard Life Aberdeen PLC (SLA) SLA.L to settle a legal
fight over the future of a 100 billion pound asset management mandate, Sky news
reported on Monday. * U.S. commodities trader Bunge Ltd BG.N and British energy company BP Plc
BP.L said on Monday they will merge their Brazilian sugar and ethanol
operations to create the world's third-largest sugarcane processor. OIL: Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday amid lingering concerns about
possible supply disruptions in the Middle East, but an overall weaker demand
outlook kept a lid on gains, helped by a vow by the International Energy Agency
(IEA) to take swift action to keep global oil markets adequately supplied.
GOLD: Gold prices fell on Tuesday as the dollar strengthened and some
investors locked in profits ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting next week.
* The UK blue chip index closed 0.1% higher as gains in oil heavyweights
amid heightened tensions in the Middle East helped London's main index hold
steady on Monday. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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