Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 1 point lower at 6,268 on
Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers.
* UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD: The University of Oxford's possible COVID-19 vaccine
could be rolled out by the end of the year but there is no certainty, the lead
developer of the vaccine said on Tuesday. * SHELL: Italian prosecutors have asked for oil majors Eni ENI.MI and
Shell RDSa.L to be fined and some of their present and former executives,
including Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi, to be jailed in a long-running trial over
alleged corruption in Nigeria. * RBS: Royal Bank of Scotland RBS.L has hired climate change expert
Nicholas Stern to help shape its sustainability strategy as the state-backed
lender prepares to rebrand as NatWest Group. * OIL: Oil prices fell on Wednesday as industry data showed a
bigger-than-expected inventory build in the United States where coronavirus
cases continue to climb, potentially further denting demand in the world's
biggest oil consumer. * GOLD: Gold jumped more than 1% on Wednesday to its highest in nearly nine
years, driven by a weaker dollar and as expectations of more stimulus to
resuscitate pandemic-hit economies lifted the metal's appeal as an
inflation-hedge. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.1% higher, as gains in energy were
offset by drugmaker AstraZeneca AZN.L . The stock retreated from life-time
highs after the lead developer of its vaccine expressed caution over when the
vaccine could be rolled out. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Britvic Plc BVIC.L Q3 trading statement
Antofagasta Plc ANTO.L Q2 production report
PayPoint Plc PAYP.L Q1 trading statement
St. Modwen Properties Plc SMP.L HY earnings release
Stagecoach Group Plc SGC.L FY earnings release
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