(Adds company news items and futures)
July 24 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 8
points higher at 7,565 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures FFIc1 down 0.25% ahead of the cash market open.
* ASTON MARTIN: Luxury carmaker Aston Martin AML.L on Wednesday lowered
several of its forecasts for this year, saying it had been hit by macro-economic
uncertainty and weakness in UK and European markets. * CRODA INTERNATIONAL: Speciality chemicals maker Croda International Plc
CRDA.L said on Wednesday its personal care unit had been significantly
impacted by the trade war between Beijing and Washington and new sales
legislation in China. * STANDARD LIFE ABERDEEN/LLOYDS BANKING GROUP: Standard Life Aberdeen Plc
SLA.L will receive 140 million pounds in compensation and continue to manage
35 billion pounds of assets, under a settlement of a legal fight with Lloyds
Banking Group LLOY.L over a 100 billion pound ($124.43 billion) investment
portfolio. * ITV ITV.L , Britain's biggest free-to-air commercial broadcaster, said a
strong contribution in online revenue from reality show "Love Island"
contributed to a slightly better-than-expected 5% decline in total ad revenue in
its first half. * TULLOW: The board of British oil producer Tullow TLW.L will pay an
interim dividend of 2.35 cents per share, representing a total payout of about
$33 million, it said on Wednesday. * ANTOFAGASTA: Chilean miner Antofagasta Plc ANTO.L reported a nearly 22%
jump in copper output in the second quarter, helped by better quality ore from
its Centinela mine in the northern part of the country and maintained its annual
production outlook. * OIL: Oil prices edged higher on Wednesday, extending gains as rising
tensions with Iran fuelled concerns about supply disruptions and as U.S.
inventory data showed a much bigger-than-expected drop in crude stockpiles.
* GOLD: Gold prices rose on Wednesday, moving away from a one-week low
touched in the previous session, as escalating tensions in the Middle East drove
investors towards the safe-haven metal, while a stronger dollar limited the
metal's gain. * The UK blue chip index closed 0.6% higher on Tuesday, helped by broad
gains on a combination of generally positive corporate results from Wall Street
and Europe and bets that major central banks would cut interest rates soon.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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