UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Dec 22

(Adds news items)
Dec 22 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 futures index FFIc1 was down 0.49%
ahead of the cash market open on Tuesday.

* VODAFONE: Vodafone Group VOD.L offered to buy the remaining shares in
Kabel Deutschland Holding KD8Gn.H , which it does not already own, in a deal
aimed at capping remaining risks from a long-running legal battle over its 2013
takeover of the company. * APPLEGREEN: Applegreen APGNA.L said it had agreed to be bought out by a
consortium led by B&J Holdings and Blackstone Infrastructure Partners in a deal
that values the Irish gas station operator at around 718.1 million
euros. * ASTRAZENECA: Drugmakers AstraZeneca AZN.L and Amgen AMGN.O said their
experimental asthma drug tezepelumab failed to meet the main goal of reducing
patients' dependence on steroids while keeping the condition in check in a
late-stage trial. * EASYJET: British airline easyJet EZJ.L , whose finances have come under
severe pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic, has agreed with Airbus AIR.PA to
defer the delivery of aircraft, the company said. * ECONOMY: Britain's economic recovery from its coronavirus crash was a bit
quicker than previously thought in the July-September period, according to
official data which also showed government borrowing soaring to pay for the
coronavirus crisis. * GOLD: Gold prices fell as support from the U.S. Congress passing a
long-awaited near $900 billion coronavirus aid was countered by a stronger
dollar, while some profit-taking also weighed on sentiment. * OIL: Oil prices dropped nearly 2%, adding to steep losses from the
previous session, as a new strain of the novel coronavirus in the United Kingdom
triggered concerns over fuel demand recovery. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 1.7% lower on Monday as several
nations closed their borders to Britain. UK mid-cap stocks suffered their worst
day in 3 months on Monday as stricter curbs to fight a fast-spreading new strain
of the coronavirus prompted travel bans, worries about food shortages and
further economic pain. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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