July 24 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 8
points higher at 7,565
on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers.
* DE LA RUE: The UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has opened a criminal
investigation into passport and banknote printer De La Rue DLAR.L over
"suspected corruption" in its business in South Sudan, sending its shares
plunging to 16-year lows. * BRITISH AIRWAYS: British Airways has lost a legal bid to stop its pilots
from going on strike over pay in the busy summer holiday season but said it
plans to appeal the decision. * RYANAIR: Ryanair's RYA.I Irish pilot union on Tuesday began a ballot of
members on possible strike action with results due by Aug. 9, the FORSA-IALPA
union said in a statement. * OIL: Oil prices edged higher on Wednesday, extending gains as rising
tensions with Iran fuelled concerns about supply disruptions and as U.S.
inventory data showed a much bigger than expected drop in crude stockpiles.
* GOLD: Gold prices rose on Wednesday, moving away from a one-week low
touched in the previous session, as escalating tensions in the Middle East drove
investors towards the safe-haven metal, while a stronger dollar limited the
metal's gain. * The UK blue chip index closed 0.6% higher on Tuesday, helped by broad
gains on a combination of generally positive corporate results from Wall Street
and Europe and bets that major central banks would cut interest rates soon.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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* UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Just Group Plc JUSTJ.L Q2 Trading update
Quartix Holdings Plc QTX.L HY Earnings release
Van Elle Holdings Plc VANL.L FY Earnings release
Antofagasta Plc ANTO.L Q2 Production report
Croda International Plc CRDA.L HY Earnings release
Segro Plc SGRO.L HY Earnings release
PayPoint Plc PAYP.L Q1 Trading statement
Informa Plc INF.L HY Earnings release
Polymetal International Plc POLYP.L Q2 Production results
Marston's Plc MARS.L Interim management statement
ITV Plc ITV.L HY Earnings release
GlaxoSmithKline Plc GSK.L Q2 Earnings release
Drax Group Plc DRX.L HY Earnings release
Britvic Plc BVIC.L Q3 Trading statement
Tullow Oil Plc TLW.L HY Earnings release
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
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