UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on April 20

(Adds company news items and futures)
April 20 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 48 points higher
at 5,835 on Monday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures .FFIc1 up
1.09% ahead of cash market open.
* PLUS500: Online trading platform Plus500 PLUSP.L said Chief Executive
Officer Asaf Elimelech would step down after a four year tenure, a period marked
by the introduction of stricter rules for retail trading and high volatility.
* DFS FURNITURE: British sofa retailer DFS Furniture DFSD.L is negotiating
an additional debt facility of 60-70 million pounds ($75-87 million) and
preparing an equity issue of up to 19.9% of its existing share capital to get it
through the coronavirus crisis. * PREMIER FOODS: Premier Foods PFD.L said it expects annual trading profit
to be at the top end of market expectations, as the coronavirus pandemic fuelled
a short-term peak in volumes in March. * RANK GROUP: Casino and gaming operator Rank Group RNK.L said it had
furloughed nearly 90% of its workforce in the UK as its venues remain closed due
to coronavirus-led lockdowns. * MARSTON'S: Brewer and pub operator Marston's MARS.L became the latest
British firm to secure a waiver from its banking backers for potential breaches
of its debt commitments, after it shut down its national network of bars and
restaurants due to the coronavirus outbreak. * COUNTRYSIDE PROPERTIES: Britain's Countryside Properties CSPC.L said its
executive committee and board agreed to a 20% reduction in base salary and fees
as the housebuilder battles a slump in demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.
* OIL: Crude oil futures fell on Monday, with U.S. futures touching levels
not seen since 1999, extending weakness on the back of sliding demand and
concerns that U.S. storage facilities will soon fill to the brim amid the
coronavirus pandemic. * GOLD: Gold prices fell to a more than one-week low on Monday, dragged by a
firmer dollar amid doubts over the United States' plans to reopen the world's
largest economy as the novel coronavirus pandemic showed no signs of easing.
* The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed up 2.8% on Friday as investors
cheered plans for a gradual restarting of the U.S. economy and encouraging data
emerged on a possible treatment for COVID-19. 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