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April 12 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is
seen opening lower on Monday, with futures .FFIc1 down 0.3%.
* ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) AZN.L said a late-stage trial
to test whether its diabetes drug Farxiga could treat patients
hospitalised with COVID-19, who are at risk of developing
serious complications, did not meet its main goals. * HAMMERSON: Shopping centre operator Hammerson HMSO.L
confirmed it was in talks on the possible sale of its retail
parks portfolio to Canadian private equity player Brookfield
Asset Management BAMa.TO .
* ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca AZN.L had a positive meeting
with the European Commission last week, the Anglo-Swedish
company said after an Italian newspaper said the group had not
replied to an EU letter of complaint over COVID-19 vaccines
within a 20-day deadline. * ECONOMY: Confidence among big businesses in Britain about
their profits in the year ahead has hit a record high, helped by
the country's coronavirus vaccinations and hopes for less Brexit
disruption, a survey of chief finance officers showed.
* TRADE DEAL: A group of lawmakers in the United Kingdom and
a few business figures have formed an independent commission to
improve Britain's trade deal with the European Union and the
rest of the world, the Financial Times reported. * GOLD: Gold prices fell on Monday, weighed down by firmer
U.S. Treasury yields and dollar after better-than-expected U.S.
economic data lifted prospects for higher inflation.
* OIL: Oil was little changed amid hopes that fuel demand is
picking up in the U.S. as the summer driving season approaches
and COVID-19 vaccinations there accelerate, although rising case
numbers in other countries are keeping a lid on
prices. * London's FTSE 100 ended lower on Friday as heavyweight
mining stocks tracked lower commodity prices, although the
blue-chip index recorded its best weekly performance since early
January on optimism about a recovery in the UK economy.
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