(Adds futures, news items)
Jan 6 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 42 points
lower at 7,580 on Monday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures
FFIc1 down 0.4% ahead of the cash market open.
* PLUS500: Online trading platform Plus500 PLUSP.L forecast its first drop
in annual revenue and core profit in at least three years as regulatory
restrictions on certain financial products in Europe and Britain hit
performance. * TREMOR INTERNATIONAL: Marketing firm Tremor International Ltd TRMR.L
said it agreed to buy video advertising firm Unruly from Rupert Murdoch's News
Corp NWSA.O . * NMC HEALTH: NMC Health NMC.L said its independent review, launched after
U.S. short-selling firm Muddy Waters criticised the private healthcare
provider's financials, will initially focus on confirming its cash balances as
of Dec. 15. * ALDI UK: Aldi UK ALDIEI.UL , the British arm of the German discount
supermarket, said its total sales rose 7.9% in the four weeks to Dec. 24
year-on-year, driven by strong growth in beers, wines and spirits as well as its
range of premium products. * CAR SALES: The number of new cars sold in Britain last year fell to its
lowest since 2013, as consumers held back from purchases amid increased
restrictions on diesel vehicles and economic uncertainty in the run-up to
Brexit. * RETAIL SALES: British shops recorded only a marginal increase in December
sales, driven by deep and widespread discounting, an industry survey showed on
Saturday. * BREXIT: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will meet European Commission
President Ursula von der Leyen in London on Wednesday ahead of the opening
rounds of trade talks that will begin once Britain formally leaves the bloc on
Jan. 31. * GOLD: Gold surged close to a seven-year peak, as investors flocked to the
safe-haven metal on escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, while palladium surpassed the
level of $2,000 to hit a record high. * OIL: Oil prices shot more than 2% higher, with Brent rising above $70 a
barrel, after U.S. President Donald Trump issued a threat to impose sanctions on
Iraq amid escalating tensions with Iran in the Middle East. * London's main stock index overturned earlier loses to end higher on Friday
as a U.S. air strike in Iraq stoked fears of a disruption in crude supply,
supporting shares of oil heavyweights, and as tobacco stocks firmed.
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