(Adds company news items and futures)
May 17 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is expected to open 23
points lower at 7,331 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures
.FFIc1 up 0.34% ahead of the cash market open.
* STAFFLINE GROUP: Staffline Group Plc STAF.L said ongoing Brexit
uncertainty was driving companies to move a significant number of temporary
workers into permanent positions to protect against the risk of the labour
market tightening, hurting its margins. * SAGE: British software company Sage SGE.L on Friday said it expects
full-year organic recurring revenue growth to be at the top end of its previous
forecast, underpinned by higher software subscriptions.
* HIKMA PHARMACEUTICALS: Hikma Pharmaceuticals Plc HIK.L on Friday backed
its forecast for the full-year, boosted by higher demand for its injectable
drugs and a rebound in its generics business.
* EASYJET: British budget airline easyJet EZJ.L warned of a tough trading
environment on Friday and said revenue per seat in the second half of the year
would be down as consumers are deterred by uncertainty over Brexit and economic
weakness in Europe.
* RESTAURANT GROUP: Restaurant Group Plc RTN.L , the owner of the Frankie &
Benny's chain, reported a 57% jump in total sales for the 19-week period ending
May 12, boosted by the recent acquisition of noodle chain Wagamama and new pub
openings. * METRO BANK: Embattled British lender Metro Bank MTRO.L has raised 375
million pounds ($479.63 million) of vital capital to shore up its finances just
hours after launching a discounted funding round on Thursday. * LLOYDS BANKING: Lloyds Banking Group LLOY.L has defended the 6.3 million
pound ($8.06 million) pay package awarded to chief executive Antonio
Horta-Osorio, after criticism from politicians and investor trade bodies.
* BT Group: The new boss of Britain's BT Group BT.L will give each
employee 500 pounds ($641) worth of shares, at a total cost of 50 million
pounds, in one of his first moves to drive better performance at the telecoms
giant. * OIL: Oil prices rose again on Friday and were on track for the first
weekly gains this month, as rising tensions in the Middle East stoked fears of
supply disruptions. * GOLD: Gold extended its losses on Friday, following its biggest one-day
percentage loss in a month in the previous session on a firmer dollar and as a
strong U.S. data, corporate results boosted investor appetite for riskier
assets. * The UK blue chip index closed 0.78% higher at 7353.51 on Thursday as
rallying banks and mining stocks lifted Britain's FTSE 100, but weak earnings
hit luxury brand Burberry BRBY.L and Thomas Cook TCG.L was floored by a
profit warning.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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($1 = 0.7819 pounds)