(Adds futures, news items)
Jan 26 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 8 points
higher at 6,647 on Tuesday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures
.FFIc1 up 0.07% ahead of cash market open.
* ROLLS-ROYCE: Rolls-Royce RR.L downgraded expectations for how much its
engines would fly this year and warned of a big cash outflow due to travel
restrictions under the COVID-19 pandemic. * SAGA: Saga SAGA.L reported total cruise bookings of 140 million pounds
($190.54 million), as it prepares to restart sailing in May after more than a
year of suspension due to the COVID-19 crisis. * PZ CUSSONS: PZ Cussons PZC.L reported higher first-half adjusted pretax
profit from a pandemic-led demand for handwash and sanitisers. * JD SPORTS: JD Sports Fashion Plc JD.L confirmed it was exploring
additional funding options which may involve a non-equity placing, as it looks
to increase its flexibility to invest in future strategic
opportunities. * MOONPIG: Moonpig Group plans to raise up to 422 million pounds from an
initial public offering its bookrunner said, in a deal that would value it at as
much as 1.2 billion pounds. * DP EURASIA: DP Eurasia DPEU.L , said its overall sales in 2020 rose by
14.6% as COVID-19 boosted shift to home delivery. * AG BARR: A.G. Barr BAG.L said it expects annual pretax profit to be
ahead of market estimates. * REFINITIV: Refinitiv CEO David Craig said the COVID-19 pandemic had shown
how fragile and complacent the world was so leaders should challenge their
thinking in a volatile world. * UNEMPLOYMENT: Britain's unemployment rate rose to 5.0%, in the three
months to Nov as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to take its toll on the
economy. * GOLD: Gold inched higher as expectations that a large U.S. stimulus
package would be passed eventually boosted the metal's appeal as a hedge against
inflation. * OIL: Oil prices fell as fading hopes for a rapid approval of new U.S.
economic stimulus and mounting new coronavirus cases raised questions over the
pace of any recovery in demand. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.8% lower on Monday with travel
stocks leading the declines, as rising coronavirus infections and extended
lockdowns raised worries of prolonged economic pain, while fashion retailers
Boohoo and ASOS gained on merger deals. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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($1 = 0.7348 pounds)