Jan 6 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 3 points
higher at 6,615 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers.
* Paperchase: British stationery chain Paperchase on Tuesday filed a notice
to appoint administrators from PwC as its sales were hurt by store closures due
to the COVID-19 pandemic, joining a list of UK retailers pushed over the edge by
the crisis. * AUTOS: Britain's car industry warned the Brexit trade deal will add
additional costs to firms, despite the sector securing tariff-free trade with
the European Union, just as it needs to pick up investment in electric vehicles.
* TRAVEL: Airlines flying into the UK will be required to bar passengers
from boarding if they do not have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of
departure, the Telegraph reported late on Tuesday. * ECONOMY: Many British businesses struggled during four weeks of lockdown
in November, according to a major survey which bodes poorly for the economy as
new restrictions to tackle a fresh surge in COVID cases kick in. * INFLATION: British shop prices dropped sharply in early December as
non-food stores offered big discounts in the run-up to the Christmas trading
period, a survey showed. * GOLD: Gold edged lower as the dollar firmed with investors tracking two
closely contested U.S. Senate runoff races in Georgia that will likely determine
President-elect Joe Biden administration's fiscal policy. * OIL: Oil prices rose to their highest since February 2020 after Saudi
Arabia agreed to reduce output more than expected in a meeting with allied
producers, while industry figures showed U.S. crude stockpiles were down last
week. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.6% higher on Tuesday as fresh
stimulus measures overshadowed risks arising from a new national lockdown
imposed to curb the spread of a new coronavirus variant, while energy stocks
jumped on higher oil prices. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Informa Plc INF.L FY trading statement
Topps Tiles Plc TPT.L Q1 trading statement
Greggs Plc GRG.L Trading statement
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