(Adds futures, news items)
April 19 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is
seen opening 2 points lower at 7,018 on Monday, according to
financial bookmakers, with futures FFIc1 down 0.04% ahead of
the cash market open.
* MELROSE : Melrose Industries MRON.L said it has agreed
to sell its Nortek Air Management business for about 2.62
billion pounds to Chicago-based Madison Industries. * EQUINITI: Private equity firm Siris Capital confirmed it
has submitted a non-binding proposal to buy British outsourcing
firm Equiniti Group EQN.L for 170 pence per share in cash.
* DARKTRACE: British cyber-security firm Darktrace said its
planned $4 billion premium listing on the London Stock Exchange
would take place in early May. * JOHNSON MATTHEY: Russian metals producer Nornickel
GMKN.MM said that it signed a long-term agreement to supply
nickel and cobalt for the production of battery materials by
Johnson Matthey JMAT.L in Finland. * CLIMATE CHANGE: A group of investors managing $11 trillion
in assets has called on banks to set tougher emissions targets
ahead of a meeting of world leaders aimed at accelerating
efforts to fight climate change. * HOUSEPRICES: Advertised prices for homes in Britain hit a
record high after finance minister Rishi Sunak stoked the market
again by extending a tax cut for home-buyers last month,
property website Rightmove said on Monday. * COVID-19 STUDY: British scientists on Monday launched a
trial which will deliberately expose participants who have
already had COVID-19 to the coronavirus again to examine immune
responses and see if people get reinfected. * REVOLUT: Digital banking app Revolut is on track for a new
fundraising that will value the company at more than $10
billion, Sky News reported on Saturday. * GOLD: Gold prices rose, hovering near a seven-week peak
hit in the previous session, as a softer dollar and a retreat in
U.S. Treasury yields lifted demand for the safe-haven metal.
* OIL: Oil prices were lower as rising coronavirus
infections in India and other countries prompted concerns that
stronger measures to contain the pandemic will hit economic
activity. * London's FTSE 100 ended above the 7,000 mark on Friday for
the first time since the pandemic pummelled risk assets last
year and gained for the second consecutive week as falling
coronavirus infections lifted optimism about a stronger economic
recovery. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please
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