(Adds futures, news items)
Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 11 points lower at 6,118 on
Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures FFIc1 down 0.1%.
* BARCLAYS: Barclays set aside a higher-than-expected 1.6 billion pounds to
cover a possible rise in loan losses in the second quarter. * TAYLOR WIMPEY: Homebuilder Taylor Wimpey TW.L said it expects to
complete around 40% fewer homes in 2020. * DIGNITY: Funeral services provider Dignity Plc DTY.L said profit in the
first half of 2020 rose 11% as it conducted more funerals due to the COVID-19
pandemic. * SMITH+NEPHEW: Medical products maker Smith+Nephew SN.L posted a
lower-than-expected first-half profit as patients and hospitals delayed elective
surgeries. * NEXT: Next NXT.L said its full-price sales in the second quarter
declined by 28%, a much better result than it expected at the height of the
pandemic. * PREMIER FOODS: Premier Foods PFD.L said its second-quarter sales have
seen a strong start but expects that to normalise through the quarter.
* JUPITER FUND: Money manager Jupiter Fund Management JUP.L said its
assets under management fell 8% over the first six months. * RIO TINTO: Miner Rio Tinto's RIO.AX first-half profit fell 4%, as
coronavirus-driven disruptions spurred a drop in copper shipments. * ASTON MARTIN: Carmaker Aston Martin AML.L posted a first-half loss of
227 million pounds ($293 million). * WIZZ AIR: Low-cost carrier Wizz Air WIZZ.L said the aviation recovery
would be like a roller coaster and that there was still too much uncertainty
from the pandemic. * LANCASHIRE: Insurer Lancashire LRE.L posted a loss for the first half of
the year. * DRAX: Power generator Drax DRX.L reported a 61 million pound ($79
million) loss before tax for the first half of 2020. * OIL: Oil prices rose after an industry report showed that crude
inventories in the United States fell against expectations, giving the market a
boost amid record increases of coronavirus infections in the U.S. and elsewhere.
* The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed up 0.4% on Tuesday, as investors
hedged with defensive stocks ahead of some keenly awaited events such as a U.S.
Federal Reserve meeting and a decision on a U.S. stimulus plan. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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