Jan 20 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 23
points higher at 6,736 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers.
* LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE: London Stock Exchange LSE.L said on Tuesday that
it should complete its $27 billion acquisition of Refinitiv on Jan.
29. * JD WETHERSPOON: JD Wetherspoon JDW.L plans to raise up to $128 million
in its second cash call from investors since the start of the COVID-19
pandemic. * INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES GROUP: International Airlines Group ICAG.L has
agreed to buy Spain's Air Europa for 500 million euros under an amended deal,
the companies said. * BHP: BHP Group Ltd BHP.AX , BHP.L forecast record iron ore production
for fiscal 2021, as it looks to cash in on high prices for the commodity
following restart of its Brazilian operations. * FRASERS: Frasers FRAS.L said it has increased its stake in Hugo Boss
BOSSn.DE to 15.2% through stocks and derivatives. * ECONOMY: Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane said he expected
Britain's economy to begin to recover "at a rate of knots" from the second
quarter of this year, as vaccines against COVID-19 are rolled out. * MARKETS: EU Financial Services Commissioner Mairead McGuinness said
Brussels would not grant Britain's financiers access to the bloc before
assessing the risks to financial stability. * GOLD: Gold prices rose as expectations for a massive U.S. stimulus to help
it recover from the coronavirus jolt bolstered bullion's appeal as an inflation
hedge and pressured the dollar. * OIL: Oil prices rose on expectations the incoming U.S. administration will
go ahead with massive stimulus spending that would boost fuel demand and draw
down crude stocks. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.1% lower on Tuesday as Ladbrokes
owner Entain slumped after U.S. casino operator MGM opted out of a $11 billion
takeover plan, while miners also dragged. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Antofagasta Plc ANTO.L Quarterly Production
Burberry Group Plc BRBY.L Trading Statement
Cairn Energy Plc CNE.L Trading Statement
City of London Investment Trust CTY.L Trading Statement
CMC Markets Plc CMCX.L Trading Statement
Diploma Plc DPLM.L Trading Statement
WH Smith Plc SMWH.L Trading Statement
Hochschild Mining Plc HOCM.L Quarterly Production
Dixons Carphone Plc DC.L Trading Statement
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