(Adds news items, futures)
Dec 7 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 4 points
lower at 6,546 on Monday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures up
0.28% ahead of the cash market open.
* TED BAKER: Ted Baker TED.L posted a bigger half-yearly loss as
coronavirus-led restrictions hit store sales, even as the company's online
business registered a strong performance.
* COUNTRYWIDE: Real estate management firm Connells Ltd said it had raised
its buyout offer for Britain's Countrywide Plc CWD.L by 30% to 325 pence per
share. * IMIMOBILE: Cisco CSCO.O has agreed to buy cloud communications software
company IMImobile PLC IMOI.L for 595 pence per share in cash in a deal valued
at about $730 million, including debt. * KINGFISHER: Kingfisher KGF.L said it would return the business rates
relief it received from the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland governments
during the COVID-19 pandemic, joining a list of other British
retailers. * FRASERS: Mike Ashley's Frasers Group FRAS.L said it is in negotiations
to buy collapsed British department store chain Debenhams BARRGF.UL from
administrators in a potential rescue deal. * GOLD: Gold prices ticked higher as grim U.S. jobs data bolstered hopes for
more fiscal stimulus, although optimism around coronavirus vaccine rollouts kept
gains in check. * OIL: Oil prices fell as a continued surge in coronavirus cases globally
forced a series of renewed lockdowns, including strict new measures in Southern
California in the United States, the world's top oil consumer. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.9% higher on Friday as a jump in
oil prices boosted energy stocks, while investors remained focussed on Brexit
trade talks with only four weeks left for Britain's transition period out of the
bloc to end.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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