(Adds company news items, futures)
June 26 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 17
points lower at 7,405 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures FFIc1 down 0.27% ahead of the cash market open.
* STAGECOACH: Stagecoach Group Plc SGC.L reported higher annual profit on
Wednesday, even as the bus and rail operator faces losing three important rail
franchises that could wipe off 1 billion pounds from the company's books going
forward. * TULLOW: Britain's Tullow Oil TLW.L has delayed the final investment
decision (FID) for its Kenya project to 2020 and has not yet sealed a tax deal
in Uganda that is vital for the progress of its plans there with Total
TOTF.PA , it said on Wednesday. * BCA MARKETPLACE: British private equity firm TDR Capital on Wednesday said
it offered to buy car auctioneer BCA Marketplace BCA.L for about 1.91 billion
pounds ($2.42 billion).
* LOOKERS: Shares in Lookers Plc LOOK.L slid to their lowest in over seven
years on Tuesday after the car dealership said Britain's financial watchdog is
investigating its sales processes over the last three years. * FIRSTGROUP: Britain's FirstGroup plc FGP.L said on Tuesday its
shareholders had rejected top shareholder Coast Capital's proposals to appoint a
new chief executive and overhaul its board. * WOODFORD: Woodford Investment Management Ltd IPO-WOOD.L is close to
hiring bankers to sell its stakes in private companies Atom Bank and Oxford
Nanopore Technologies, a source close to Woodford told Reuters on Tuesday.
* BP: Mexico's oil regulator on Tuesday approved a $97 million plan for
drilling in an offshore area operated by British supermajor BP BP.L in the
southern Gulf of Mexico. * GOLD: Gold prices slipped more than 1% on Wednesday, moving away from a
six-year peak hit on Tuesday, as U.S. Federal Reserve officials played down
expectations of aggressive rate cuts, while investors locked in profits
following a strong rally. * OIL: Oil prices rose more than 1% on Wednesday to their highest in nearly
a month as industry data showed U.S. crude stockpiles fell more than expected,
underpinning a market already buoyed by worries over a potential U.S.-Iran
conflict. * The UK blue chip index closed 0.1% higher on Tuesday eking out modest
gains on the back of strength in mining companies and oil stocks on Tuesday,
alleviating some anxiety after the United States imposed more sanctions on
Tehran and before Sino-U.S. trade talks this week. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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