(Adds company news items and futures)
Feb 24 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 92 points lower at
7,312 on Monday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures down 1.5% ahead
of cash markets open.
* BUNZL: British business supplies distributor Bunzl BNZL.L reported a
2.4% rise in annual profit benefiting from the acquisitions it made last year,
although growth in organic revenue slowed in its largest market North America.
* ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS: Primark owner Associated British Foods
warned there was a risk of supply shortages on some lines later in the 2019-20
financial year if delays in factory production in China are prolonged due to
coronavirus. * COUNTRYWIDE/LSL PROPERT SERVICES: British real estate agent Countrywide
CWD.L confirmed that it was in talks with rival LSL Property Services LSL.L
for a possible all-share merger. * REACH: British newspaper publisher Reach RCH.L said it aimed to grow its
registered users to 7 million over the next three years, helping secure the
future of its news title such as the Mirror, Express and Manchester Evening
News. * BARCLAYS: Barclays BARC.L is gearing up to start the search for a new
top boss to replace Chief Executive Officer Jes Staley, the Financial Times
reported, citing two people briefed on the bank's plan. * HSBC: UniCredit Chief Executive Jean Pierre Mustier has ruled himself out
of a switch to European rival HSBC HSBA.L , a source with knowledge of the
matter told Reuters on Sunday. * OIL: Oil prices tumbled nearly 3% towards a one-week low as the rapid
spread of the coronavirus in several countries outside China left investors
fretting about a hit to demand. O/R
* GOLD: Gold prices climbed more than 2% to their highest level since
February 2013, as a spike in infections in several countries outside China
heightened worries about a hit to global economic growth, prompting a flight to
safe havens. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.4% down on Friday as investors
took measures to reduce their exposure to perceived risky assets as the
coronavirus continued to spread, while a buyout offer powered real estate
investment firm Daejan Holdings DJAN.L to an all-time high. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times PRESS/FT
> Other business headlines PRESS/GB
($1 = 0.7714 pounds)