March 12 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 13
points lower at 6,724 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers.
* BARCLAYS: A judge ruled Barclays will have to pay its own 33 million pound
legal bill despite winning a case against British businesswoman Amanda
Staveley's PCP Capital Group over how the bank negotiated a financial lifeline
during the credit crisis in 2008. * ASTRAZENECA: Washington has told the European Union that it should not
expect to receive AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) AZN.L COVID-19 vaccines manufactured in the
United States any time soon, two EU sources said. Separately, in a document seen
by Reuters, AstraZeneca AZN.L cut its supply forecast of COVID-19 vaccines to
the European Union in the first quarter to about 30 million
doses. * INSURANCE: Motor insurance claims in Britain fell 19% in 2020 and rates
stayed at a four-year low, as people undertook fewer journeys due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, the Association of British Insurers said. * GOLD: Gold prices retreated as firmer U.S. bond yields and a strong dollar
weighed on the metal. * OIL: Brent crude prices eased as production cuts by major oil producers
constrained supply, with optimism about a recovery in demand for the resource in
the second half of the year also lending support. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.2% higher on Thursday as firmer
commodity prices boosted mining and energy stocks, while HSBC traded ex-dividend
and AstraZeneca sank on doubts over its COVID-19 vaccine. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Hammerson HMSO.L FY results
Berkeley Group Holdings BKGH.L Trading update
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