(Adds futures, news items)
March 4 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen
opening 80 points lower at 6,595 on Thursday, according to
financial bookmakers, with futures .FFIc1 down 0.3% ahead of
the cash market open.
* AVIVA: Insurer Aviva AV.L posted flat operating profit
of 3.2 bln pounds for 2020 and sold its remaining businesses in
Italy, it said. * WILLIAM HILL: William Hill WMH.L which is being acquired
by Caesars Entertainment Inc CZR.O , posted a steep fall in
annual adjusted pre-tax profit. * MEGGITT: Meggitt MGGT.L said profit halved during 2020
due to the coronavirus pandemic. * ADMIRAL: Admiral Group ADML.L posted higher full-year
earnings, as it paid out fewer claims relating to car repairs
and accidents, with repeated coronavirus lockdowns in the UK
keeping people away from roads. * ENTAIN: Gambling firm Entain ENT.L posted an 11% rise in
2020 core earnings as it Ladbrokes and bwin businesses benefited
from a rise in online betting during lockdowns. * NEXTENERGY: NextEnergy Renewables said it was to delay its
planned stock market listing in London because "a number of
institutional investors require more time to complete due
diligence. * VISTRY: Vistry Group VTYV.L forecast a surge in 2021
profit as the housing sector stands to benefit from an extension
in property tax breaks and other incentives announced in the UK
budget. * MELROSE: Melrose Industries MRON.L said it has begun a
sale process for its Nortek air-conditioning division as the
engineering business owner posted a steep fall in its annual
profit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. * MHRA: Britain's medicines regulator said modified versions
of authorised COVID-19 vaccines for variants of the coronavirus
would be fast-tracked for approvals. * CAR SALES: British new car registrations fell by roughly
36% year-on-year in February, according to preliminary data from
an industry body. * ASTRAZENECA: The Czech Republic has declined an offer to
buy AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN)'s AZN.L coronavirus vaccines from an
intermediary in the United Arab Emirates, Czech officials said
on Wednesday. * BT: BT BT.L said the "super deduction" tax break for
investment announced by the government on Wednesday would
significantly cut its tax bill for several years. * RIO: A U.S. judge on Wednesday quashed a bid to widen the
scope of a civil lawsuit by the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission that accused miner Rio Tinto RIO.AX of fraud at its
Mozambican coal business, a court filing showed. * SAINSBURY'S: British supermarket group Sainsbury 's
SBRY.L plans to cut an additional 500 jobs and reduce its
office space as it simplifies administrative functions for the
post-pandemic era, it said on Wednesday. * OIL: Oil prices rose for a second straight session on
Thursday, as the possibility that OPEC+ producers might decide
against increasing output at a key meeting later in the day lent
support. * British shares rose on Wednesday, buoyed by gains in
financial, leisure and homebuilding stocks as investors cheered
finance minister Rishi Sunak's budget plan. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please
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