UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Feb. 2

(Adds futures and news items)
Feb 2 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 47 points
higher at 6,514 on Tuesday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures
.FFIc1 up 0.44% ahead of cash market open.

* BP: BP's fourth-quarter profit sank to $115 million, missing analysts'
forecasts, pummelled by continued weak energy demand due to the coronavirus
epidemic and weak trading results. * VIRGIN MONEY: Lender Virgin Money VMUK.L has set aside a further 726
million pounds to protect its balance sheet from potential loan losses, as it
reported a "modest" increase in the number of customers needing additional
support after exiting pandemic payment holidays. * SSE: SSE Plc SSE.L said it has appointed banks to explore options for
the sale of all or some of its stake in Scotia Gas Networks. * NOVACYT: Novacyt ALNOV.PA , NCYT.L announced the launch of new products
to test for the presence of COVID-19 variants. * MOONPIG: Moonpig MOONM.L priced its London initial public offering,
valuing the company at around 1.2 billion pounds and paving the way for other
e-commerce companies to follow. * HOUSE PRICES: British house prices fell in January for the first time in
seven months, before the scheduled March 31 end of a tax cut for buyers,
mortgage lender Nationwide said. * SILVER: Silver dropped more than 2%, retreating from a near eight-year
peak it hit in the previous session, as a margin hike by the Chicago Mercantile
Exchange prompted investors to lock in profits. * OIL: Oil prices rose more than 1% after major crude producers showed they
were reining in output roughly in line with their commitments. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.9% higher on Monday led by gains
in mining stocks as silver became the latest target of a retail investor trading
frenzy, while fashion retailer ASOS gained on a deal to buy rival brands and JD
Sports surged following its second acquisition in the United States.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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