Gold prices near 3-week lows as stronger dollar, trade progress weigh
(Adds futures, news items)
Dec 14 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 17 points higher
at 6,563 on Monday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures down 0.1%
ahead of the cash market open.
* ASTRAZENECA: Britain's AstraZeneca AZN.L has agreed to buy U.S.
drugmaker Alexion Pharmaceuticals ALXN.O for $39 billion in its largest ever
deal, diversifying away from its fast-growing cancer business in a bet on
rare-disease and immunology drugs. * CODEMATERS: Computer games firm Electronic Arts EA.O said it had reached
an agreement to buy Codemasters CDM.L in a deal worth $1.2 billion, trumping
an earlier agreement between the British company and rival Take-Two Interactive
Software TTWO.O . * STHREE: British recruiting firm SThree Plc STEMS.L reported lower annual
net fees earned, hurt by reduced global hiring activity due to the impact of
COVID-19 on businesses. * DIGNITY: British funeral operator Dignity DTY.L said its finance
director Steve Whittern had resigned from the board with immediate effect and
would leave the company on December 31. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.8% lower on Friday as investors
prepared for Britain to leave the European Union in three weeks without a trade
deal, while Rolls-Royce tumbled after it downgraded this year's
forecast. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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