UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on April 2

(Adds company news items and futures)
April 2 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 15
points lower at 5,439 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures up 0.44% ahead of cash market open.
* HAYS: Recruiter Hays HAYS.L announced an emergency 200 million pound
($248.36 million) issue of shares, as it sought to prop up its finances in the
face of an expected collapse in fees due to the coronavirus lockdowns.
* ROBERT WALTERS: London-based recruitment group Robert Walters RWA.L said
it would not pay a final dividend for its 2019 financial year as it cuts costs
to battle the hit of the coronavirus on the industry. * SAGA: Over 50s holidays specialists Saga SAGA.L said it could suspend
all cruise ships and other holidays until 2021 under its most severe stress test
scenario for the coronavirus crisis. * FCA: The Financial Conduct Authority proposed a range of new measures to
support households facing sudden financial hardship as result of the
coronavirus, including three-month payment freezes on loans and credit card
debt. * CENTRICA: British-based power supplier and energy group Centrica CNA.L
cancelled its 2019 dividend payment and took more steps to cut costs, saying it
expected customers to defer electricity bill payments and sees a drop in
business usage due to a nationwide lockdown. * OIL: Crude oil futures surged after U.S. President Donald Trump said he
expected Saudi Arabia and Russia to reach a deal soon to end their oil price war
and Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a solution to "challenging" oil
markets. * GOLD: Gold prices edged lower as the dollar held firm, while investors
awaited key U.S. jobless data amid mounting signs of a recession due to the
worsening coronavirus outbreak.
* EX-DIVS: InterContinental Hotels IHG.L , Mondi MNDI.L , Melrose
Industries MRON.L , Phoenix Group PHNX.L , Standard Life Aberdeen SLA.L ,
Smith & Nephew SN.L and Taylor Wimpey TW.L will trade without entitlement to
their latest dividend pay-out on Thursday, trimming 5.05 points off the FTSE 100
according to Reuters calculations. * The UK blue chip index closed down 3.8% on Wednesday as banking shares
dived after suspending dividend payments, while plunging factory activity in
Britain and elsewhere underlined the severe economic impact of the coronavirus
pandemic. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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