Stock market today: S&P 500 rides Apple-led tech rally to close higher
(Adds company news items and futures)
Dec 20 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening flat at
7,574 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures .FFIc1 down
0.21% ahead of the cash market open.
* ROYAL DUTCH SHELL: Royal Dutch Shell RDSa.L said on Friday it expects
impairment charges of up to $2.3 billion in the fourth quarter and trimmed its
forecast for quarterly oil production sales. * OIL: Oil prices held steady near three-month highs, heading for a third
consecutive weekly rise, on the back of easing Sino-U.S. trade tensions that
have weighed on demand as well as the global economic growth outlook.
* GOLD: Gold prices inched lower in range-bound trade, pressured by
increased risk appetite on hopes of an interim Sino-U.S. deal being signed soon,
while investors awaited U.S. GDP data release for fresh cues. * The UK blue-chip index closed up 0.4% on Thursday, partly in response to a
weaker pound, which came under pressure from fears Britain may leave the
European Union without a trade deal at the end of 2020. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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