UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on April 16

(Adds company news items and futures)
April 16 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 30 points lower
at 5,568 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures up 0.89%
ahead of cash market open.
INFORMA: Informa INF.L , the world's largest exhibitions group, launched an
issue of shares worth 20% of its existing capital on Thursday and suspended its
dividend as it sought to shore up its finances in the coronavirus crisis.
* ASHMORE: Emerging markets-focussed money manager Ashmore ASHM.L posted a
22% plunge in assets under management, slammed by an $18 billion loss on its
investments, as a coronavirus-led selloff in financial markets bashed global
stocks last month. * PZ CUSSONS: British cosmetics and soap maker PZ Cussons PZC.L said it
was seeing "exceptionally high" demand for its Carex hand wash, sanitiser gel
products and Imperial Leather soap due to the coronavirus pandemic, while
flagging a slowdown in its beauty business. * EASYJET: The chief executive of easyJet EZJ.L said when flying restarts
after the coronavirus crisis recedes planes are likely to operate with the
middle seat empty due to social distancing regulations. * BARRATT: Barratt Developments BDEV.L said its executive and
non-executive directors have agreed to a voluntary 20% reduction in base salary
and fees, beginning April 1 and until the group resumes work at its sites.
* SCHRODERS: Schroders SDR.L reported net new business of 30.4 billion
pounds on Thursday, largely thanks to an influx of assets from the Scottish
Widows investment mandate, offsetting a fall in assets under management to 471
billion pounds. * RENTOKIL INITIAL: Pest control company Rentokil Initial RTO.L said it
was pushing ahead with cuts in spending including staff lay offs and a 35% cut
in board members pay as it braces for a bigger hit to operations in the second
quarter due to the coronavirus pandemic. * SHELL: Royal Dutch Shell RDSa.L announced plans to deepen its greenhouse
gas emissions reduction "ambitions", including offsetting emissions from oil and
gas production by 2050. * GOLD: Gold prices edged lower as the dollar firmed and investors booked
profits, but losses were capped as dour retail sales and manufacturing data out
of the United States heightened fears of a steep global recession.
* OIL: Oil rose, with U.S. crude rebounding from near-20-year lows in the
previous session on hopes that a big build-up in U.S. inventories may mean
producers have little option but to deepen output cuts as the coronavirus
pandemic ravages demand. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE fell 3.3% on Wednesday as sliding oil
prices and grim predictions about the global economy dragged the FTSE 100 down,
while expectations of a longer British lockdown knocked UK midcap shares.
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