Sept 12 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening up 37
points at 7,375 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.
* LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE: Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (HKEX)
0388.HK unveiled a $39-billion takeover approach to the London Stock Exchange
Plc (LSE) LSE.L on Wednesday that received a cool response from investors
concerned about its regulatory and financial hurdles. * HSBC: HSBC HSBA.L is planning to exit its French retail banking business
under interim chief executive Noel Quinn, the Wall Street Journal reported on
Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. * OIL: Oil prices jumped on Thursday, bouncing back from heavy losses in the
previous session, buoyed by moves to ease trade tensions between Washington and
Beijing and a drop in U.S. crude inventories to the lowest in nearly a year.
O/R
* GOLD: Gold prices fell as equities gained on improving risk sentiment
buoyed by signs of gradual de-escalation in U.S.-China trade tensions, while
investors eyed European Central Bank's meeting for cues on monetary policy
easing.
* EX-DIVS: Melrose Industries PLC MRON.L will trade without entitlement to
its latest dividend pay-out on Thursday, trimming 0.3 points off the FTSE 100
according to Reuters calculations.
* The UK blue chip index on Wednesday closed up 1% at 7338.03 points on
signs of less tension in the U.S.-China trade fight and prospects of more
stimulus from central banks, while shares in London Stock Exchange scaled a
record high after Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing's offer. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Safestore SAFE.L Trading Update
IGas Energy IGAS.L Half-year Results
Morrisons MRW.L Half-year Results
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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