March 11 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 14
points higher at 6,740 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.
* MARKS & SPENCER: Marks & Spencer MKS.L said it would launch a wave of
guest clothing brands on its website this spring, including Hobbs, White Stuff,
Joules and Sloggi, in bid to accelerate online growth. * RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto RIO.AX said it had signed an agreement to supply
the first batch of its aluminium-scandium alloy produced in North America to
additive manufacturer and developer Amaero 3DA.AX . * BHP: BHP Group BHP.AX is unlikely to make any major acquisitions in the
near-term given rocketing commodity prices, and will instead focus on
exploration and wringing more value out of existing assets, its chief executive
said. * ASTRAZENECA: European Medicines Agency said on Wednesday there was no
evidence so far linking AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN)'s AZN.L COVID-19 vaccine to illnesses in
two people who received it in Austria. * HSBC: HSBC HSBA.L will phase out its support for the coal industry in
the developed world by 2030 and in the developing world by 2040, the bank
said. * HOUSE PRICES: The slow start to 2021 for Britain's housing market
stretched into February, before finance minister Rishi Sunak announced new
measures that could revive a property boom that began after the first COVID-19
lockdown last year, a survey showed. * GOLD: Gold prices rose after a weaker-than-expected U.S. inflation data
halted an advance in Treasury yields and the dollar. * OIL: Crude oil prices rose as vaccine rollouts bolstered the economic
outlook and U.S. fuel stocks fell sharply. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.1% lower on Wednesday as easing
inflation concerns pulled down mining and banks stocks. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
James Fisher and Sons FSJ.J FY results
Helios Towers HTWS.L FY results
Morrison MRW.l FY results
Savills SVS.L FY results
Playtech PTEC.L FY results
IG Group IGG.L FY results
WPP WPP.L FY results
Marshalls MSLH.L FY results
Go-Ahead Group GOG.L HY results
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