Dec 14 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 17 points higher
at 6,563 on Monday, according to financial bookmakers.
* BREXIT: London and Brussels agreed on Sunday to "go the extra mile" in
coming days to try to reach an elusive trade agreement despite missing their
latest deadline to avert a turbulent exit for Britain from the European Union's
orbit at the end of the month. * MANUFACTURING: Britain's manufacturing industry warned of a potential
'knockout blow' if Prime Minister Boris Johnson is unable to secure a trade deal
with the European Union before temporary transition arrangements end on Dec.
31. * ASTRAZENECA: Britain's AstraZeneca AZN.L has agreed to buy U.S.
drugmaker Alexion Pharmaceuticals ALXN.O for $39 billion in its largest ever
deal, diversifying away from its fast-growing cancer business in a bet on
rare-disease and immunology drugs. * CODEMASTERS: U.S. computer games firm Electronic Arts Inc EA.O has made
a bid for London-listed Codemasters Group CDM.L , seeking to trump an offer
agreed last month with Take-Two Interactive Software TTWO.O , Sky News reported
on Sunday. * ROLLS-ROYCE: British aero-engine maker Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc RR.L is
beginning a search for its next chairman, Sky News reported on
Saturday. * GOLD: Gold prices eased as the rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine lifted
riskier assets, overshadowing expectations of more U.S. fiscal and monetary
stimulus. * OIL: Oil prices rose, pushing Brent back above $50 a barrel, buoyed by
hopes that a rollout of coronavirus vaccines will lift global fuel demand while
a tanker explosion in Saudi Arabia jangled nerves in the market. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.8% lower on Friday as investors
prepared for Britain to leave the European Union in three weeks without a trade
deal, while Rolls-Royce tumbled after it downgraded this year's
forecast. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
SThree Plc STEMS.L Trading update
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