July 23 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 27
points higher at 7,542 on Tuesday, according to financial bookmakers.
* BRITISH AIRWAYS: British Airways pilots have voted overwhelmingly for
strike action in a pay dispute that could disrupt the British flag carrier's
peak summer holiday season. * INMARSAT: Britain said on Monday it would scrutinise the acquisition of
satellite communications firm Inmarsat ISA.L by a private equity-led
consortium to examine any potential impact on national security. * DEBENHAMS/SPORTS DIRECT: British department store group Debenhams said
former shareholder Sports Direct SPD.L had withdrawn from a challenge to its
rescue plan because it did not have sufficient legal grounds, but the sports
retailer would continue to fund the action. * HEATHROW AIRPORT: Campaigners against the expansion of Heathrow Airport
have won the right to lodge a new legal challenge against the construction of a
new runway at Europe's biggest airport, Greenpeace, one of the appellants, said
on Monday. * LLOYDS BANKING GROUP: Lloyds Banking Group PLC LLOY.L will pay about
140 million pounds to Standard Life Aberdeen PLC (SLA) SLA.L to settle a legal
fight over the future of a 100 billion pound asset management mandate, Sky news
reported on Monday. * U.S. commodities trader Bunge Ltd BG.N and British energy company BP Plc
BP.L said on Monday they will merge their Brazilian sugar and ethanol
operations to create the world's third-largest sugarcane processor. OIL: Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday amid lingering concerns about
possible supply disruptions in the Middle East, but an overall weaker demand
outlook kept a lid on gains, helped by a vow by the International Energy Agency
(IEA) to take swift action to keep global oil markets adequately supplied.
GOLD: Gold prices fell on Tuesday as the dollar strengthened and some
investors locked in profits ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting next week.
* The UK blue chip index closed 0.1% higher as gains in oil heavyweights
amid heightened tensions in the Middle East helped London's main index hold
steady on Monday. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
LIVE/
* UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Fevertree Drinks Plc FEVR.L HY earnings release
GetBusy Plc GETB.L HY earnings release
Christie Group Plc C3U.L Q2 earnings release
Cohort Plc CHRT.L FY earnings release
Paragon Banking Group Plc PARA.L Q3 trading statement
Gresham Technologies Plc GHT.L HY earnings release
IG Group Holdings Plc IGG.L FY earnings release
PZ Cussons Plc PZC.L FY earnings release
Synectics Plc SNXS.L FY earnings release
Unite Group Plc UTG.L HY earnings release
Santander UK Group Holdings Plc SANS_p.L Q2 earnings release
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times PRESS/FT
> Other business headlines PRESS/GB