UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Feb 24

(Adds company news items, futures)
Feb 24 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 29
points lower at 6,597 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures .FFIc1 down 0.52% ahead of cash market open.

* RECKITT BENCKISER: Reckitt Benckiser RB.L capped 2020 with the strongest
sales in its history, as the COVID-19 pandemic made hygiene a top priority and
fuelled demand for its cleaning products. * VODAFONE: Vantage Towers, the mobile infrastructure company spun out of
Vodafone Group VOD.L , announced its intention to float on the Frankfurt Stock
Exchange by the end of March. * LLYODS: Lloyds Banking Group LLOY.L reported a sharp fall in profits for
2020 but resumed paying a dividend. * METRO BANK: Metro Bank MTRO.L posted a much bigger annual loss and said
it expects defaults to rise through the year in line with its
provisions. * AVIVA: Aviva AV.L has agreed to sell its 40% stake in a joint venture in
Turkey for 122 million pounds, as Chief Executive Amanda Blanc continues to sell
off non-core units. * SYNTHOMER: Synthomer Plc SYNTS.L said it was not in discussions
regarding a possible offer for the company. * HEATHROW: Britain's Heathrow Airport plunged to a 2 billion pound annual
loss after passenger numbers collapsed to levels last seen in the 1970s during
the pandemic. * HOUSING: British finance minister Rishi Sunak is preparing to extend the
stamp duty holiday by three months until the end of June in an attempt to boost
activity in the housing market as the country emerges from lockdown, The Times
reported. * GOLD: Gold prices gained as a weaker dollar and remarks by Federal Reserve
Chairman Jerome Powell that the U.S. economy still needed support boosted
bullion's appeal. * OIL: Oil prices fell after industry data showed a surprise build in U.S.
crude stocks last week. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.2% higher on Tuesday bucking the
trend in Europe as optimism around an economic recovery led by plans to ease
restrictions in Britain offset a spike in the domestic unemployment
rate. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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