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April 20 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is
seen opening 15 points lower at 7,005 on Tuesday, according to
financial bookmakers, with futures FFIc1 down 0.1%, ahead of
the cash market open.
* AB FOODS: Associated British Foods ABF.L reported a
halving in first-half profit, hurt by COVID-19 lockdowns which
shuttered its Primark fashion stores. * HAMMERSON: Hammerson HMSO.L named a new finance chief
and said it was encouraged by a recovery in footfalls at its
malls in England as the country lifted some coronavirus-related
restrictions this month. * JOBS: Britain's unemployment rate unexpectedly fell for a
second month in a row to 4.9% in the December-to-February
period, most of which the country spent under a tight COVID-19
lockdown, official figures showed. * JUPITER: British firm Jupiter Fund Management JUP.L said
it recorded net outflows of 776 million pounds in the first
quarter, mainly due to lower client demand for UK and
Europe-focused equity strategies. * RIO TINTO: The global miner RIO.AX reported lower
quarterly iron ore output, as wet weather and labour shortages
impacted its mine and port operations in Western Australia.
* SUPER LEAGUE: Broadcasters who have spent billions of
dollars to screen Champions League soccer have condemned the
plan by top European clubs to form a breakaway Super League as a
threat to the future of the game that will not succeed.
* ELEMENTIS: The British chemical company ELM.L got a
fresh takeover bid from U.S.-based Innospec Inc IOSP.O that
values it at over 1 billion pounds, Sky News reported late on
Monday.
* BT: Italy's competition watchdog said on Monday it had
started a probe over Telecom Italia 's TLIT.MI proposed
acquisition of two of British telecoms group BT's BT.L
business units in the country. * BANKS: Britain's top banks may face action to make it
easier for small businesses to open a bank account, lawmakers
said on Tuesday, after companies complained about lenders as
they struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic.
* INSURANCE: The cost of a comprehensive car insurance
policy in Britain slumped 14% in the first quarter of 2021, the
lowest level since 2015, as different phases of lockdowns kept
motorists off the streets, a survey showed. * OIL: Oil prices rose as a weaker U.S. dollar supported
commodities and on expectations that crude inventories fell in
the United States, the world's biggest oil user, though rising
coronavirus cases in Asia capped gains. O/R
* London's FTSE 100 ended lower on Monday, dragged down by a
stronger pound and as weaker oil prices weighed on energy firms.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please
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