Jan 14 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 21
points higher at 6,767 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.
* Standard Chartered: Standard Chartered Plc's STAN.L investment banking
head Simon Cooper has emerged as the internal contender to replace CEO Bill
Winters, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. * RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto RIO.AX said it had reached an agreement with
Meridian Energy MEL.NZ to allow its aluminium smelter in New Zealand to
continue operations until December 2024. * HOUSE PRICES: A boom in Britain's housing market has started to fade,
dampened by new COVID-19 lockdowns and the coming expiry of a temporary tax cut
for buyers, a survey showed. * BANKS: The Bank of England said it would do more to quantify potential
losses from its 895 billion-pound bond purchase programme, so the government and
public are clear how much money is at stake. * SUPERMARKETS: Britain will trigger safeguard measures in a divorce deal
with the European Union if there are "serious problems" in supplying
supermarkets in Northern Ireland, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. * GOLD: Gold prices inched lower as U.S. Treasury yields and the dollar
rebounded, while investors awaited details on incoming U.S. President Joe
Biden's coronavirus stimulus proposal. * OIL: Oil prices eased as mounting coronavirus cases globally raised demand
concerns. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.1% lower on Wednesday as rising
coronavirus cases and fresh lockdowns imposed across Europe raised caution about
the near-term effects on the economy. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Tesco Plc TSCO.L Q3 trading statement
Dunelm Group Plc DNLM.L Q2 trading statement
Taylor Wimpey Plc TW.L Trading statement
Boohoo Group Plc BOOH.L Trading statement
Blue Prism Group Plc PRSMB.L FY results
Centrica Plc CNA.L Trading statement
Great Portland Estates Plc GPOR.L Trading statement
Safestore Holdings Plc SAFE.L FY results
Card Factory Plc CARDC.L Trading statement
John Wood Group Plc WG.L Trading statement
Whitbread Plc WTB.L Trading statement
Network International Holdings Plc NETW.L Trading statement
Hays Plc HAYS.L Trading statement
Associated British Foods Plc ABF.L Trading statement
Halfords Group Plc HFD.L Trading statement
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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