(Adds company news items, futures)
May 21 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 21
points higher at 7,332 on Tuesday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures FFIc1 up 0.38% ahead of the cash market open.
* AMRYT PHARMA: Britain's Amryt Pharma AMYT.L has agreed to buy Aegerion
Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Novelion Therapeutics NVLN.O , in a deal that
reunites the franchise for lomitapide, a treatment for patients with a rare
cholesterol disorder. * WH SMITH: WH Smith Plc SMWH.L Chief Executive Officer Stephen Clarke has
decided to step down, the British books, stationary and newspaper chain said on
Tuesday as it reported a rise in third-quarter sales. * HALFORDS: British bicycles and car parts retailer Halfords HFD.L on
Tuesday reported a 18% fall in annual profit, blaming weak consumer confidence,
unhelpful weather and investment in the business. * GALLIFORD TRY: British builder Galliford Try GFRD.L said on Tuesday the
strategic review launched last month would see its construction business
concentrate on its core strengths in building, water and highways, leading to up
to 350 job losses across the UK. * SEVERN TRENT: British water utility Severn Trent SVT.L reiterated
warnings on Tuesday about the impact of any future nationalisation of the
industry on strategic goals the company has set for itself under its
officially-regulated business plans.
* TESCO: Britain's biggest supermarket chain Tesco plc TSCO.L said its
banking unit will stop mortgage lending, amid cut-throat competition and tough
market conditions that have pressured profits for lenders across the
sector. * NATIONWIDE BUILDING: Britain's Nationwide Building Society POB_p.L
reported a 15% fall in profits for the year to April 4, as intense competition
in the home lending market and increased spending on digital banking services
ate into its margins. * HSBC: HSBC Holdings HSBA.L plans to add more than a 1,000 jobs this year
at its technology development centres in China, as the Asia-focused lender seeks
to bolster its presence in the world's second largest economy. * GLENCORE: The London Metal Exchange (LME) has dismissed a complaint from
miner and commodity trader Glencore GLEN.L over its inability to take fast
delivery of aluminium from warehouses owned by ISTIM UK in Port Klang, Malaysia,
two sources familiar with the matter said on Monday. * SOLGOLD: SolGold SOLG.L is in talks with financiers keen to invest in
its Ecuadorian copper-gold prospects and mining major BHP BHPB.L could
increase its stake in the company, SolGold's chief executive said on Monday.
* MYSALE: Mike Ashley's Sports Direct International Plc SPD.L dissolved
its stake in online retailer MySale Group Plc MYSL.L , a filing showed on
Monday. * The UK blue chip index closed 0.5% lower at 7,310.88 points on Monday, as
worries over international trade increased on the back of U.S. curbs on China's
Huawei, while weak results from Ryanair triggered a sell-off in airlines across
the board. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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