(Adds futures, news items)
Nov 20 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 14
points lower at 7,310 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures FFIc1 down 0.3%ahead of the cash market open.
* MITCHELLS & BUTLERS: Mitchells & Butlers MAB.L reported a higher
full-year adjusted operating profit, buoyed by stronger food sales at its around
1,700 restaurants and pubs across the UK, and as it kept a tight lid on costs.
* UNITED UTILITIES: British water supplier United Utilities Group Plc UU.L
reported a 6.5% rise in first-half underlying earnings, driven by target-based
incentives from regulator Ofwat and lower infrastructure-related costs.
* JUST EAT: The head of Prosus NV's venture capital arm expects to make more
investments in the food delivery space globally, building on the hefty stakes it
already holds in leading startups in Brazil, India and Germany and its parent
company's bid for Britain's Just Eat JE.L . * KINGFISHER: British home improvement retailer Kingfisher KGF.L reported
a worsening fall in underlying sales in its latest quarter, underlining the task
facing its new boss. * BABCOCK: British engineer Babcock International BAB.L said it was on
course to hit its full-year profit and revenue targets due to solid demand for
support services across its UK warship division. * SAGE: British software company Sage SGE.L reported a 13% drop in
full-year organic operating profit to 432 million pounds ($558 million) as its
margin was squeezed by increased investment in its cloud and subscription
products. * FEVERTREE DRINKS: Premium tonic water maker Fevertree Drinks Plc FEVR.L
said it was still being hurt by slack consumer spending in Britain, even as
other regions, especially the United States, were performing well. * BREXIT: Twitter said that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's
Conservative Party misled the public by changing the name of one of its Twitter
accounts to make it look like a fact checking service during a televised
election debate. * AVIVA: British insurer Aviva AV.L has simplified its business into five
operating divisions following a review and is selling its stake in its Hong Kong
business to co-investor Hillhouse Capital, it said ahead of a presentation to
investors. * ASTON MARTIN: Aston Martin, which has seen its share price plunge this
year as sales failed to meet expectations after a stock market flotation,
launched its first sport utility vehicle on Wednesday, hoping for a turnaround
in fortunes. * VODAFONE: Vodafone VOD.L has secured a seven-year technology partnership
with Ryanair RYA.I to handle services including online booking, passenger
boarding and in-flight transactions for the Irish airline in Europe.
* IAG: A former British Airways executive who oversaw the carrier's
operations at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport has been indicted
for accepting bribes to help a ground handling company win contracts, New York's
attorney general said on Tuesday. * SHELL: Royal Dutch Shell Plc RDSa.L completed a planned seven-week
multi-unit overhaul at its 340,000 barrel-per-day (bpd), joint-venture Deer
Park, Texas, refinery on Monday, said sources familiar with plant operations on
Tuesday.
* OIL: Oil prices were steady, after falling the past two days, as a surge
in U.S. stockpiles reinforced concerns about lacklustre global economic growth
amid the trade war between the United States and China, the world's two biggest
oil consumers. * GOLD: Gold inched up after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to raise
tariffs on Chinese imports if no deal is reached with Beijing and as the U.S.
Senate passed a bill backing human rights in Hong Kong. * The UK blue chip index closed up 0.2% and shed most of its earlier gains
but still managed to close higher on Tuesday, as sentiment was supported by a
surge in safety equipment maker Halma and hopes of more stimulus from economic
powerhouse China. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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