Aug 7 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 21 points
lower at 6,006 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers.
* ASTRAZENECA: Japan will soon agree a supply deal for over 100 million
doses of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine AZN.L , reports said, while Brazil
will provide $356 million in funds to purchase and produce the shot.
* ROLLS-ROYCE: Activist shareholder ValueAct Capital sold its entire stake
in British aero-engineer Rolls-Royce RR.L . * RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto RIO.AX did not tell Aboriginal traditional owners
of two ancient caves destroyed to mine iron ore about three alternative mine
plans, its CEO told an inquiry, despite saying it had won fully informed consent
for blasting. * BP: BP BP.L is preparing to sell a large chunk of its oil and gas assets
even if crude prices bounce back from the COVID-19 crash because it wants to
invest more in renewable energy, three sources said. * HSBC: HSBC HSBC.L has promoted Christophe Oleron to the role of Global
Head of Trading for index arbitrage, Delta One and stock borrowing & lending,
two sources said. * OIL: Oil prices slipped, adding to losses in the previous session, on
worries that fuel demand growth will drop amid a resurgence of coronavirus
cases. * GOLD: Gold smashed a record high as a safety rush fuelled by the worsening
coronavirus pandemic. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE was down 1.3% on Thursday as commodities
giant Glencore tumbled after scrapping its dividend, while the Bank of England
forecast a slower-than-expected rebound from the pandemic. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Standard Life Aberdeen SLA.L HY Earnings Release
Hikma Pharmaceuticals HIK.L HY Earnings Release
TP ICAP TCAPI.L HY Earnings Release
Hargreaves Lansdown HRGV.L FY Earnings Release
Rightmove RMV.L HY Earnings Release
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