(Adds futures, news items)
Dec 2 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 21 points lower at
6,364 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures down 0.24%
ahead of the cash market open.
* COVID-19: Britain became the first country in the world to approve the
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use and said that it will be rolled out
from early next week. * STOCK SPIRITS: Vodka maker Stock Spirits STCK.L posted a higher annual
core profit and proposed a special dividend as people stuck at home due to
COVID-19 opted for the company's local brands, while the so-called "staycations"
helped boost demand during the summer. * G4S: Canada's GardaWorld has raised its offer for security group G4S
GFS.L to 235 pence per share, valuing the British company at 3.68 billion
pounds ($4.94 billion), the company said. * TESCO: Tesco TSCO.L , will repay the British government and devolved
administrations 585 million pounds ($785 million) of COVID-19 pandemic business
rates relief, the company said. * WIZZ AIR: Wizz Air WIZZ.L said passenger numbers were down 85% in
November compared to the same month last year as restrictions related to the
pandemic prolonged the travel slump. * GOLD: Gold eased as doubts over the progress of a U.S. stimulus package
made investors cautious, with further pressure added by reports of developments
on a COVID-19 vaccine. * OIL: Oil prices extended losses, hit by a surprise build in oil
inventories in the United States and as OPEC and its allies left markets in
limbo by delaying a formal meeting to decide whether to increase output in
January. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 1.9% higher on Tuesday as upbeat
Chinese factory data fuelled hopes for a global economic recovery from the
COVID-19 crisis. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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