(Adds news items and futures)
Jan 31 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 47
points higher on Friday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures up
0.46% ahead of cash markets open.
* M&C SAATCHI: M&C Saatchi Plc SAA.L said on Friday Britain's financial
watchdog had started an investigation after the advertising agency revealed an
accounting scandal last year. * STAFFLINE: Recruitment company Staffline Group Plc STAF.L said on Friday
it expects annual adjusted profit to be materially below its previous forecast,
hurt by costs associated with an ongoing accounting review. * FRENCH CONNECTION: French Connection Group Plc FCCN.L said on Friday it
had dropped plans to sell the company after completing a review and will now
focus on a turnaround by growing its wholesale business in the United States and
investing in its online platform. * HARGREAVES LANSDOWN: Hargreaves Lansdown HRGV.L on Friday posted a 3.3%
rise in assets in the three months to end-December on the back of net inflows of
client cash and market gains, helping underpin a rise in half-year profits.
* TALKTALK: Broadband provider TalkTalk TALK.L said it added 148,000 fibre
connections in the third quarter, representing 32% of all the new
fibre-to-the-cabinet lines on BT's Openreach network and largely offsetting an
industry-wide decline in voice revenue. * SENIOR: Britain's Senior Plc SNR.L , which makes parts including
airframes and engine build-up tubes for Boeing Co's BA.N 737 MAX jets, said on
Friday revenue and margins at its aerospace division will be lower in 2020
because of the MAX grounding. * SSE: Energy supplier SSE Plc SSE.L said on Friday renewable energy
output for the first nine months of the fiscal year was behind plan, but
maintained its earnings target for the year. * ASTON MARTIN: Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll will take a roughly 20%
stake in Aston Martin AML.L for nearly 200 million pounds ($263 million) as
the ailing carmaker raises funds to turn around a poor performance hit by
weaker-than-expected sales. * FERREXPO: Iron ore pellet producer Ferrexpo Plc FXPO.L said on Friday a
Ukrainian court has a put a restriction on the sale of 50.3% of its Swiss unit's
shareholding in Ferrexpo Poltava Mining, one of the company's mining businesses.
* BREXIT DAY: The United Kingdom leaves the European Union on Friday for an
uncertain Brexit future. * ASTON MARTIN: The British luxury carmaker AML.L will hold a board
meeting on Thursday to decide whether to raise funds through the sale of a
strategic stake, a person familiar with the situation told Reuters. * GOLD: Gold prices inched lower on Friday after surveys showed Chinese
manufacturing activity held steady in January and services firmed, although
concerns over the coronavirus and its economic impact kept the metal on track
for a second monthly gain. * OIL: Oil prices jumped on Friday following sharp losses this week, as the
World Health Organization (WHO) came out against travel and trade restrictions
in declaring a global emergency over the spread of the coronavirus that
originated in China last year. * CORONAVIRUS: A plane carrying UK citizens departed the Chinese city of
Wuhan just before 0200 GMT on Friday, the UK embassy in China said. The city is
the epicentre of a virus outbreak that has killed more than 200. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed down 1.4% on Thursday as the rising
death toll from the coronavirus outbreak led investors away from risky assets
like stocks and at home the Bank of England kept interest rates unchanged, while
Shell and BT slid on disappointing earnings. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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