(Adds company news items and futures)
Aug 9 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening down 20
points at 7,266 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures
FFIc1 down 0.07% ahead of the cash market open.
* WPP: WPP WPP.L reported a better-than-expected organic sales performance
in the second quarter as its new strategy under boss Mark Read helped the
world's biggest advertising group to win new business and retain clients.
* BAE SYSTEMS: BAE Systems BAES.L , Britain's biggest defence company, said
its group finance director Peter Lynas would retire on March 31 next year and be
succeeded by Brad Greve. * G4S: British security contractor G4S GFS.L said its board had approved
plans to separate its cash solutions business as it looks to focus on its
mainstay security operations. * HIKMA: Hikma Pharmaceuticals Plc HIK.L raised its full-year revenue
forecasts for its generic drug business on Friday and said sales in its
injectables unit would be near the high end of its previous outlook range due to
higher demand for its medicines. * WILLIAM HILL: Gambling firm William Hill WMH.L , which plans to cut about
a third of its betting shops and jobs in Britain, reported lower first-half
adjusted operating profit on Friday hit by a regulatory cap on fixed odds
betting terminals and costs to expand in the U.S. * CELTIC: Arsenal have bolstered their defence with the signing of
22-year-old Scotland international left back Kieran Tierney from Celtic CCP.L
on a long-term deal, the clubs confirmed on Thursday. * OIL: Oil prices fell on Friday amid fears over demand as the U.S-China
trade row casts its shadow over markets, although prices got some support from
expectations of more OPEC production cuts.
* GOLD: Gold firmed above the key $1,500 pivot on Friday, en route to its
best week since April 2016, as an escalation in the Sino-U.S. trade dispute and
fears of a global economic slowdown triggered fresh interest for safe-haven
assets. * The UK blue chip index closed up 1.2% at 7285.90 points after a round of
Chinese data dissipated some global growth fears and nickel prices hit a
16-month high amid supply worries, while Hargreaves Lansdown advanced after
strong annual results. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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