UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Dec 23

Dec 23 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 19
points lower at 6,435 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers.

* ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca Plc AZN.L told Reuters on Tuesday its COVID-19
vaccine should be effective against the new coronavirus variant, adding that
studies were under way to fully probe the impact of the mutation. * CAIRN ENERGY: Cairn Energy CNE.L has won an international arbitration
case against the Indian government over a tax dispute, ending one of the most
high profile disputes in the country, two sources with direct knowledge of the
matter told Reuters. * UNILEVER: Unilever Plc ULVR.L said it had expanded its partnership with
Burger King to supply its plant-based meat patties for Whopper burgers at
restaurants in Latin America, the Caribbean and China. * BREXIT: A Brexit trade deal between the United Kingdom and the European
Union is possible on Wednesday after progress in talks on fishing rights, ITV's
political editor said, hours after tweeting that there was no chance of an
accord before Christmas. * AUTOS: British car production fell only slightly in November but output is
down by almost a third so far in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions and the
approach of a possible Brexit shock at the end of this month, an industry body
said. * ECONOMY: A fall in British business activity deepened after the country
began to tighten coronavirus restrictions again last month, the Confederation of
British Industry said, calling for more support for businesses from the
government. * GOLD: Gold prices ticked higher as weakness in the dollar offset worries
about a U.S. stimulus deal after President Donald Trump threatened not to sign
the pandemic relief bill. * OIL: Oil fell in early trade after industry data showed U.S. crude oil
stocks rose last week, defying expectations for a decline, and U.S. President
Donald Trump rattled markets by threatening not to sign a long-awaited COVID-19
relief bill. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.6% higher on Tuesday as fresh
hopes of a trade deal with the European Union outweighed fears over a mutated
variant of the novel coronavirus that has shut most of the island
country. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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