(Adds company news items and futures)
Jan 27 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index futures were down 1.4%
at 7,425 points on Monday, ahead of cash markets open.
* PETRA DIAMONDS: Petra Diamonds PDL.L said its first-half revenue fell
6%, dented by lower prices as the diamond industry grappled with soft demand
from China following a trade dispute with the United States and amid
anti-government protests in Hong Kong. * STHREE: British recruiting firm SThree Plc STEMS.L reported a 21% jump
in annual pretax profit, as strong growth in its international markets helped
counter weakness at home ahead of Brexit. * FASTJET: Fastjet FJET.L said it would not be able to continue as a going
concern if the South African low-cost carrier could not carry out its
restructuring proposal by the end of March. * AMIGO: British subprime lender Amigo AMGO.L has launched a strategic
review, as founder James Benamor wants to find a new owner for his 60.6% stake,
the company said on Monday. * OIL: Crude prices fell more than 2% to multi-month lows as the rising
number of cases of the new coronavirus in China and city lockdowns there
deepened concerns over oil demand, even as Saudi Arabia's energy minister sought
to calm the market. * GOLD: Gold prices rose to their highest in more than two weeks as equities
slipped on growing concerns that a China virus outbreak could impact that
nation's economy, prompting investors to dump riskier assets and look for safe
havens. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE ended a four-day losing streak to rise 1%
on Friday as nerves eased after the World Health Organisation issued a measured
assessment of the new coronavirus in China. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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