Jan 27 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 18
points lower at 6,636 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers.
* G4S: Allied Universal said it had extended the time for G4S GFS.L
shareholders to accept its offer to buy the British security services
firm. * ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca AZN.L Chief Executive Pascal Soriot said it is
working with Oxford University on a vaccine that will target the South African
COVID-19 variant. In another statement, he also said the European Union's late
decision to strike a contract with the drugmaker to supply COVID-19 vaccines,
months after Britain, meant the company did not have enough time to iron out
glitches in setting up production lines with external
partners. * AIRLINES: The bosses of airlines including British Airways, Virgin
Atlantic and easyJet criticised a possible plan for mandatory quarantine in
hotels for some or all arrivals to Britain and called for a support
package. * INFLATION: British retailers reported the biggest annual fall in prices
since May this month, adding to signs of pressure on the sector since
non-essential stores had to close to the public from Jan. 5 as part of renewed
COVID lockdown measures. * OUTLOOK: International Monetary Fund cut Britain's growth outlook for 2021
on Tuesday due to a resurgence in coronavirus cases. * GOLD: Gold prices edged lower weighed by a firmer dollar, as markets
awaited the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision and developments
around a stimulus package in the world's largest economy. * OIL: Oil prices climbed after industry data showed U.S. crude stockpiles
fell unexpectedly last week and China, reported its lowest daily rise in
COVID-19 cases, bolstering hopes of a pick-up in demand. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.2% higher on Tuesday after
AstraZeneca denied reports that its COVID-19 vaccine was less effective in the
elderly population. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Brewin Dolphin Holdings Plc BRW.L Trading Statement
Tullow Oil Plc TLW.L Trading Statement
Fresnillo Plc FRES.L Quarterly output
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