UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Aug 20

(Adds company news items and futures)
Aug 20 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 88
points lower at 6,024 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures down 1.12% ahead of cash market open.

* AO WORLD: Online electricals retailer AO World AO.L said its revenue
surged in the months during and after the easing of coronavirus lockdowns as
demand for its products and services was sustained even after its rivals
reopened stores in July. * PREMIER OIL: Premier Oil PMO.L said it has agreed to terms for a
long-term refinancing of its debt facilities, including $300 million of new
equity and an extension to its credit maturities, after posting a first-half
loss on weak crude prices. * JOHN LAING: Infrastructure investor John Laing Group JLG.L said on
Thursday it was unlikely to meet its target of 1 billion pounds of investments
by the end of 2021, given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry
and its business. * ANTOFAGASTA: Chilean miner Antofagasta ANTO.L reported a 22.4% drop in
first-half core earnings on Thursday on lower copper sales and metal prices,
although the company said it will pay an interim dividend in line with the
payout policy. * SHERBORNE INVESTORS: Activist Sherborne Investors SIGC.L has committed
to pursuing a shake-up in the management and strategy at Barclays BARC.L,
despite posting a 56% fall in its net asset value (NAV) in the last six months
to 351 million pounds ($459.32 million). FRASERS: Mike Ashley's Frasers Group FRAS.L , formerly Sports Direct ,
reported a 5% rise in 2019-20 core earnings and forecast growth of 10-30% in its
new financial year, saying it was well placed for the future despite COVID-19.

* IHG: French hotels group Accor ACCP.PA has examined a merger with
British peer InterContinental Hotels Group Plc IHG.L , Le Figaro newspaper
reported on its website. * CENTRICA: Members of the GMB union have voted for industrial action
against Centrica Plc's CNA.L British Gas after the utility issued "fire and
rehire" threats to its workforce, the union said on Wednesday. * GOLD: Gold on Thursday bounced back from the previous session's hefty
losses after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised concerns that a recovery from the
coronavirus-induced economic slump faced a highly uncertain path, weighing on
risk sentiment. * OIL: Oil prices fell as major producers warned of a risk to demand
recovery if the coronavirus crisis is prolonged, while U.S. crude inventories
dropped less than expected. * METALS: London copper dipped, retreating from an over two-year high hit in
the previous session, as a stronger U.S. dollar made metals less attractive to
holders of other currencies. * EX-DIVS: Anglo American AAL.L , Berkeley Group BKGH.L , Croda
International CRDA.L , Evraz EVRE.L , Hikma HIK.L , Imperial Brands IMB.L ,
London Stock Exchange LSE.L , Mondi MNDI.L , M&G Plc MNG.L , Prudential
PRU.L , Reckitt Benckiser RB.L , Schroders SDR.L and Standard Life Aberdeen
SLA.L will trade without entitlement to their latest dividend pay-out on
Thursday, trimming 7.7 points off the FTSE 100 according to Reuters
calculations. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE ended 0.6% higher on Wednesday as the
exporter-heavy index benefited from a slightly weaker pound, while a drop in
Hochschild Mining's share put pressure on the mid-cap FTSE 250. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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