Dec 18 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is expected to open 2
points lower at 7,524 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers.
* BHP: Global miner BHP Group BHP.AX BHPB.L is feeling its way back into
commodities trading, making a dedicated hire to help it manage a base metals
book in Singapore as it seeks to boost returns and manage transaction risk, two
people with knowledge of the matter said. * BAT: British American Tobacco (BAT) BATS.L must stop advertising its
e-cigarettes from any public account on Instagram, including influencers'
accounts, the UK's advertising watchdog ruled on Wednesday. * METRO BANK: Metro Bank MTRO.L said on Tuesday Vernon Hill, the founding
chairman of the struggling British lender, had stepped down as a non-executive
director. * GOLD: Gold prices were largely subdued on Wednesday, with investors
awaiting more details on U.S.-China trade deal, while palladium retreated from
last session's record peak. * OIL: Oil retreated on Wednesday after rising more than 1% in the previous
session as U.S. industry data showed a surprise build in crude stocks, but hopes
for firmer demand next year checked a deeper fall in prices. * The UK blue-chip index eked out a 0.1% gain on Tuesday, lifted by
trade-sensitive stocks amid optimism about a proper trade agreement between
China and the United States. UK CORPORATE DIARY: None
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
LIVE/
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times PRESS/FT
> Other business headlines PRESS/GB