Sept 3 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 18
points higher at 5,959 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.
* GSK/SANOFI: French drugmaker Sanofi SASY.PA and its British peer GSK
GSK.L have started a clinical trial for a protein-based COVID-19 vaccine
candidate, as pharmaceutical companies race to develop treatments against the
COVID-19 pandemic. * METALS: London copper prices rose as data from China showed a steady
economic recovery in the world's biggest copper consumer after the hit from the
COVID-19 pandemic. MET/L
* GOLD: Gold recouped some of the previous session's hefty losses as the
dollar steadied, although gains were capped by an uptick in risk appetite on
recent better-than-expected economic data. GOL/
* OIL: Oil prices edged up, but held near multi-week lows hit overnight
after U.S. data showed gasoline demand fell and recovery from the COVID-19
pandemic was lagging. O/R
* The UK blue-chip index .FTSE rose for the first time in four sessions on
Wednesday as a surge in house prices to record highs powered stocks of
homebuilders, with Barratt jumping to the top of the FTSE 100. .L
* UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Gem Diamonds Ltd GEMD.L HY results
Headlam Group Plc HEAD.L HY results
EnQuest Plc ENQ.L HY results
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
LIVE/
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times PRESS/FT
> Other business headlines PRESS/GB