(Adds news items, futures)
Feb 7 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 7 points
lower on Friday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures FFIc1 down
0.2% ahead of the cash market open.
* NOVACYT: Biotechnology company Novacyt ALNOV.PA NCYT.L said it has
applied for emergency approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for a
test product for the coronavirus that has killed almost 640 people. * BURBERRY: Britain's Burberry BRBY.L said the virus outbreak in mainland
China was hurting luxury demand in one of its most important markets.
* CALISEN: British smart meter company Calisen CLSN.L priced a 328.8
million pounds initial public offering, placing 145.55 million shares at 240
pence per share. * OFGEM: UK's energy regulator said the price cap for bills will fall by 17
pounds to 1,162 pounds during the summer, as wholesale energy prices have
declined in the last few months. * ADMIRAL: British insurer Admiral ADML.L said it expects 2019 pretax
profit to rise 6%-13% from the prior year due to lower UK motor bodily injury
claims. * SHELL: Oil and gas major Royal Dutch Shell RDSa.L said it plans to build
its first utility-scale solar farm in Australia, part of a global push into the
power business and cleaner energy. * ECONOMY: British companies hired permanent staff in January at the fastest
rate in just over a year and shops reported the biggest increase in sales since
2014, according to two surveys which added to signs of a post-election bounce in
the economy. * RETAILERS: British retailers had their biggest increase in sales in six
years in January as Prime Minister Boris Johnson's sweeping election win and
price-cutting encouraged consumers to spend more, a survey showed. * HARGREAVES LANSDOWN: Hargreaves Lansdown's HRGV.L largest investor Peter
Hargreaves will sell shares worth about 500 million pounds ($647 million) in the
British investment platform via a sale to institutional investors, a bookrunner
on the deal said. * OIL: Oil prices advanced after Russia said it backs a recommendation for
OPEC and other producers to cut their output further amid falling demand for
crude as China battles the coronavirus epidemic. * GOLD: Gold prices were steady after two days of gains as share markets
lost ground, with the coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China, showing no
signs of slowing down, escalating fears of a broader impact on economic
growth. * UK shares advanced for a fourth straight session on Thursday as risk
sentiment picked up after China pledged to halve tariffs on some U.S. imports,
though Royal Mail RMG.L slid to an all-time low after warning of a challenging
year ahead. UK PAPERS
> Financial Times PRESS/FT
> Other business headlines PRESS/GB