Dec 12 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 7 points
higher at 7,224 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.
* VODAFONE: Telecom Italia TLIT.MI and Vodafone VOD.L will kick off the
sale of a stake in their Italian tower business in the coming days after picking
advisers for the process, two sources said. * BHP: BHP Group BHP.AX said on Thursday it would retain for now all its
memberships of industry associations after reviewing their climate and energy
policy positions, even as it placed four memberships under review. * GOLD: Gold prices were little changed on Thursday as investors waited to
see if the United States would slap fresh tariffs on Chinese goods this weekend,
while palladium continued its record run on fears of a deepening supply deficit.
* OIL: Oil prices edged higher on Thursday with the market mood switching to
relief as OPEC forecast a supply deficit next year, from doom and gloom over
data showing a surprise increase in U.S. crude inventories. * EX-DIVS: Associated British Foods ABF.L and 3I Group III.L will trade
without entitlement to its latest dividend pay-out on Thursday, trimming 1.1
points off the FTSE 100 according to Reuters calculations.
* The UK mid-cap bourse closed 0.6% lower on Wednesday on growing
expectations of a close election outcome, while JD Sports JD.L dropped 10%
after its top investor cut its stake. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Fuller Smith & Turner FSTA.L Half Year 2019 Earnings
Polar Capital Technology Trust PCT.L Half Year 2020 Earnings
Caretech Holdings CTH.L Full Year 2019 Earnings
Vianet Group VNET.L Half Year 2020 Earnings
Purplebricks Group PURP.L Half Year 2020 Earnings
Dixons Carphone DC.L Half Year 2020 Earnings
Balfour Beatty BALF.L Trading Statement
PZ Cussons PZC.L Trading Statement
Superdry SDRY.L Half Year 2020 Earnings
Ocado Group OCDO.L Q4 2019 Trading Statement
Serco Group SRP.L Pre-Close Trading Statement
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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