UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on May 5

(Adds news items, futures)
May 5 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 39 points
higher at 6,962 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures
FFIc1 seen up 0.64% ahead of cash market open.

* ITV: ITV ITV.L said its advertising revenue was rebounding from the
COVID-19 hit last year, with April up 68%, May expected to be up about 85% and
June up between 85% and 90%. * SIG: SIG SHI.L said it expects to deliver an underlying operating profit
in the first half of 2021, returning to profitability earlier than
expected. * CRODA: Croda International CRDA.L announced a strategic review of two of
its businesses, evaluating options including a full or partial sale.
* DIRECT LINE: Direct Line DLGD.L reported a 4.7% fall in gross written
premiums in the first quarter. * HISCOX: Hiscox HSX.L recorded a 6.3% rise in gross written premiums to
1.26 billion pounds in the first quarter. * VIRGIN MONEY: Virgin Money VMUK.L reported improved half-year earnings,
after setting aside less cash to cover pandemic-driven loan losses. * BOOHOO: Boohoo BOOH.L reported a 37% jump in full-year core
earnings. * TESCO: Tesco TSCO.L has agreed to increase healthy food options at
operations in Europe as well as Britain to appease investors who had filed a
landmark shareholder resolution to force the issue. * SHELL: HollyFrontier Corp HFC.N said on Tuesday it would buy a 149,000
barrel per day refinery in Washington from Shell RDSa.L as part of the
European company's strategy to reduce its global refinery footprint. * FINANCE: Deliveroo's ROO.L poor public debut in March has not put off
other companies from listing in London, Britain's financial services minister
said on Tuesday. * AUTOS: British new car sales posted a 30-fold increase in April, according
to preliminary data. * GOLD: Gold prices ticked up, lifted by a retreat in the dollar, although
gains were kept in check after U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said
interest rates may need to rise. * OIL: Oil prices rose after industry data indicated U.S. crude stocks fell
much more than expected last week. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.7% lower on Tuesday as a drop in
bond yields across Europe dragged financials stocks down. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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