(Adds futures, news items)
Jan 13 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 11
points higher at 6,765 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures FFIc1 up 0.10% ahead of cash market open.
* PERSIMMON: Persimmon PSN.L posted a near 25% rise in forward sales, as
the housing market rebounded from coronavirus-led disruptions. * ASOS: ASOS ASOS.L forecast full-year profit at the top end of market
expectations after reporting a 23% jump in retail sales over the four months to
Dec. 31, benefiting from strong demand during pandemic lockdowns. * PAGEGROUP: PageGroup Plc PAGE.L posted a 20% drop in fourth-quarter
gross profit, hit by weaker performance across all its operating regions due to
a coronavirus-led hiring slump. * WILLIAM HILL: British bookmaker William Hill WMH.L , which is set to be
taken over by U.S. casino operator Caesars Entertainment CZR.O , posted a drop
in annual revenue hit by COVID-19 lockdowns and sports events
cancellations. * LIDL: The British arm of German discount supermarket Lidl said sales had
increased by 17.9% in the four weeks to Dec. 27, driven by customers buying more
goods in store and switching away from rivals. * GOLD: Gold edged higher as the U.S. dollar and Treasury yields pulled
back, and the prospect of massive U.S. fiscal stimulus boosted the metal's
appeal as an inflation hedge. * OIL: Oil prices gained more than 1% with U.S. crude rising for a seventh
day, after industry data showed a bigger than expected drop in inventories and
investors shrugged off worsening developments in the pandemic. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.7% lower on Tuesday as worries
about increasing cases of COVID-19 and its impact on the economy coupled with a
stronger pound overshadowed a set of upbeat earnings forecasts. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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