Feb 27 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 168 points lower
at 6,875 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.
* NMC HEALTH: NMC Health NMC.L has removed Chief Executive Prasanth
Manghat with immediate effect and granted its finance chief extended sick leave,
as more details emerge from an investigation into the UAE healthcare firm's
finances. * LLOYDS BANKING GROUP/VIRGIN MONEY: Lloyds Banking Group LLOY.L and
Virgin Money VMUK.L pressed ahead with hundreds of job cuts in the face of
union opposition, as British banks try to keep up with customers moving online.
* ASHMORE GROUP: Emerging markets investment manager Ashmore Group ASHM.L
has defended the strategy of its short duration debt fund which has been
clobbered by its exposure to two nations in crisis, Lebanon and Argentina.
* G4S: G4S GFS.L said on Wednesday it would sell majority of its cash
handling businesses to U.S. peer Brinks BCO.N for 727 million pounds ($944.66
million) including debt, as the British security contractor looks to focus on
its core operations. * EX-DIVS: Astrazeneca AZN.L , Barclays BARC.L , Diageo DGE.L , Easyjet
EZJ.L , HSBC HSBA.L will trade without entitlement to its latest dividend
pay-out on Thursday, trimming 27.8 points off the FTSE 100 according to Reuters
calculations. .L/XD
* London's mid-cap index slid to its lowest in more than three months on
Wednesday amid worries that Britain's upcoming budget may disappoint investors,
while the FTSE 100 snapped a four-day losing run after a rally on Wall Street.
UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Netcall NETC.L HY Results
Verona Pharma VRP.L FY Results
EVRAZ EVRE.L FY Results
Haydale Graphene Industries HAYD.L HY Results
Bakkavor Group BAKK.L FY Results
Amigo Holdings AMGO.L FY Results
Aston Martin AML.L FY Results
RSA Insurance RSA.L FY Results
Rentokil Initial RTO.L FY Results
National Express NEX.L FY Results
Inchcape INCH.L FY Results
Howden Joinery HWDN.L FY Results
St. James's Place SJP.L FY Results
Hikma Pharmaceuticals HIK.L FY Results
Drax Group DRX.L FY Results
Mondi PLC MNDI.L FY Results
Greencoat UK Wind UKWG.L FY Results
Vesuvius VSVS.L FY Results
British American Tobacco BATS.L FY Results
Reckitt Benckiser Group RB.L FY Results
WPP WPP.L FY Results
Genus GNS.L HY Results
Provident Financial PFG.L FY Results
Persimmon PSN.L FY Results
Hunting HTG.L FY Results
James Fisher and Sons FSJ.L FY Results
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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