(Adds company news items and futures)
July 29 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is expected to open 2
points higher at 7,551 on Monday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures FFIc1 flat ahead of the cash market open.
* JUST EAT-TAKEAWAY.COM: European online food delivery rivals Takeaway.com
TKWY.AS and Just Eat JE.L said on Monday they had agreed in principle to
create one of the largest players in the sector globally through an 8.2 billion
pounds ($10.1 billion) all-share deal. * HAMMERSON: British shopping centre operator Hammerson Plc HMSO.L
reported lower first-half net rental income on Monday, and said it sold stakes
in two shopping centres in Europe for 423 million pounds ($523 million).
* KELLER GROUP: Keller Group Plc KLR.L posted a 32% drop in first-half
profit on Monday as costs rose in its North America operations, but the
engineering contractor stuck to its full-year expectations citing a stronger
second half of the year. * BANK OF IRELAND: Brexit is weighing heavily on the minds of Irish small
and medium enterprise customers, the chief executive officer of the Bank of
Ireland BIRG.I said on Monday. * HISCOX: Insurer Hiscox HSX.L reported a higher first-half profit on
Monday as it earned more from premiums and strong returns on investment, helping
offset steep claims from natural catastrophes, including typhoon Jebi in Japan
and hurricane Michael in Florida. * LIONTRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT: Liontrust Asset Management Plc LIO.L
confirmed on Monday it was in discussions for a possible acquisition of Neptune
Investment Management Ltd. * TBC BANK: Georgian lender TBC Bank Group Plc TBCG.L on Monday said it
has appointed independent director Nikoloz Enukidze as the company's chairman
with immediate effect, less than a week after its former chief Mamuka Khazaradze
stepped down. * FERGUSON: Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management LP has urged Ferguson Plc
FERG.L to sell its UK business, Sky News reported on Sunday, a month after the
activist fund built up a 6% stake in the plumbing products distributor.
* LSE: The London Stock Exchange Group Plc LSE.L said on Friday it was in
discussions to acquire financial data analytics provider Refinitiv Holdings Ltd
for $27 billion, including debt.
* SPORTS DIRECT: Sports Direct SPD.L founder Mike Ashley said buying House
of Fraser may have been a mistake for the British sporting goods retailer, in a
delayed results statement that also warned it could face a 674 million euro bill
from Belgium's tax authority. * ANGLO AMERICAN: Mining mogul Anil Agarwal pocketed just 6% profit from his
3.5 billion pound investment in Anglo American AAL.L , held since 2017, even
though the underlying shares rose over 50% since then, according to Reuters
estimates. * OIL: Oil prices fell on Monday as investors fretted over the outlook for
global economic growth, while weekend talks between Iran and major powers ended
on a generally positive note, suggesting an easing of tensions in the Middle
East. * GOLD: Gold prices gained on Monday ahead of this week's U.S. Federal
Reserve monetary policy meeting, which is expected to lead to a cut in U.S.
interest rates. * Britain's FTSE 100 surged on Friday led by Vodafone, which enjoyed its
best day in more than 16 years on plans to create a separate European tower
company, while mid-cap Sports Direct fell after thrice delaying its annual
results. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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