(Adds news items, futures)
May 7 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen
opening higher on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.1% ahead
of cash market open.
* ROLLS-ROYCE: British aero-engine maker Rolls-Royce RR.L
signalled it expects to cut some of its workforce to respond to
the slump in the global aerospace market, saying it would inform
affected employees before the end of this month. * IHG: Holiday Inn-owner InterContinental Hotels IHG.L
said it expects revenue per available room to plunge 80% in
April compared with last year and that the coronavirus crisis
was the biggest challenge the hotel industry ever faced.
* BT: Britain's biggest telecoms group BT BT.L has
suspended its dividend until 2021/22 and pulled its financial
outlook in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. * IAG: British Airways-owner IAG ICAG.L said that Chief
Executive Willie Walsh would stay on until September to steer it
through the coronavirus crisis, and that it was planning for
flights to return to service in July. * COCA COLA: Soft drinks bottler Coca Cola HBC AG CCH.L
said sales in April fell by more than a third as fast-food
chains, theatres and other public arenas stayed shut to limit
the spread of the new coronavirus during stay-at-home
orders. * SUPERDRY: British fashion retailer Superdry SDRY.L said
its revenue plunged 37% in its latest quarter, reflecting the
closure of its stores across the world due to the novel
coronavirus. * RATHBONE BROTHERS: Rathbone Brothers RAT.L posted a
15.4% slump in funds under management and administration as at
March end, due to coronavirus-led selloff in financial markets,
but said that the second quarter had started well with strong
inflows. * RSA: British insurer RSA RSA.L said it expected its
exposure from the coronavirus pandemic to total around 25
million pounds ($30.89 million), with most of the claims coming
from travel insurance. * BOE: The Bank of England is unlikely to add to its
enormous stimulus for Britain's economy on Thursday, but the
historic hit to output and jobs that it is set to spell out will
raise the prospect of yet more bond-buying before long.
* JOBS: Britain's job market came to a dead stop in April as
the coronavirus lockdown prompted a huge drop in economic
activity, from which businesses will take time to recover,
surveys showed. * AVIATION FIRMS: British aerospace and aviation firms must
look at existing government schemes and self-help measures
before individual packages for companies are considered, housing
minister Robert Jenrick said on Wednesday. * DEBENHAMS: British department store group Debenhams said
it will shut down five of its stores in Hammerson HMSO.L
leading to potentially 1,400 job cuts, as it failed to agree
rent terms with the mall operator * GSK: GlaxoSmithKline GSK.L is selling $3.45 billion
worth of shares in Unilever 's ULVR.L Indian business HLL.NS
on the open market, according to a deal marketing term sheet
seen by Reuters, cashing in late from the sale of the Horlicks
brand.
* CARNIVAL: Carnival Corp's CCL.L CCL.N Princess Cruises
said on Wednesday its voyages would remain suspended through the
end of summer as reduced flights and travel bans around the
globe bring the industry to a virtual standstill. * GOLD: Gold rose as bleak economic data raised doubts about
a recovery in the coronavirus-hit global economy even though
some countries started to ease lockdown restrictions.
* OIL: Oil prices steadied as data showed China's crude
imports rebounded, but market watchers expect gains to be capped
by the glut in supplies as the coronavirus pandemic crushes
global fuel demand. O/R
* London's FTSE 100 closed nearly flat on Wednesday as
record gains for healthcare stocks offset growing evidence of
the economic damage from the COVID-19 pandemic and escalating
U.S.-China tensions. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please
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