UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Aug. 18

(Adds futures, news items)
Aug 18 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening open 10
points lower at 6,118 on Tuesday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures FFIc1 down 0.62% ahead of cash markets open.

* CAPITA: British outsourcer Capita Plc CPI.L posted a 28.5 million pound
($37.44 million) loss for the first half of 2020, as revenue took a hit due to
the coronavirus crisis and said it would not generate sustainable cash flow for
up to 2 years. * MARKS & SPENCER: British retailer Marks & Spencer MKS.L said it plans to
cut 7,000 jobs over the next three months as it streamlines the business for a
post COVID-19 sales mix. * PERSIMMON: Housebuilder Persimmon PSN.L posted a plunge in first-half
profit, as it sold fewer homes due to coronavirus-driven disruptions to
construction activity and transactions, but "an excellent start to the second
half" helped it reinstate dividend. * WOOD: Engineering and consultancy company Wood Plc WG.L reported a 20.6%
fall in first-half core earnings as the coronavirus-driven oil price crash dealt
a major blow to its global energy clients. * COMPASS: Compass Group CPG.L named the former chief executive officer of
Ferguson FERG.L , Ian Meakins, as its non-executive chairman, replacing Paul
Walsh who steps down in December. * BHP: BHP Group BHP.AX , BHPB.L said it expected most major world
economies except China to bear the brunt of a coronavirus-led downturn this
year, reporting a 4% drop in annual profit that missed analysts' estimates.
* GOLD: Gold prices extended gains to inch closer to the $2,000 mark on
Tuesday as the dollar weakened, with traders also focusing on minutes from the
U.S. Federal Reserve's last policy meeting set to release this week.
* OIL: Oil prices slipped on Tuesday, though they mostly held onto overnight
gains after OPEC+ said the producer grouping is almost fully complying with
output cuts to support prices amid a drop in demand for fuels due to the
coronavirus pandemic. * METALS: Copper prices rose on Tuesday, as a weakening U.S. dollar made
greenback-denominated metals more attractive to buyers using other currencies.
* The UK blue-chip index .FTSE was up 0.8% on Monday as more stimulus in
China powered mining stocks, while investors eyed a slate of economic data due
later in the week to gauge the pace of a post-pandemic rebound. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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