(Adds company news items, futures)
July 4 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening flat at
7,609 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures up 0.1% ahead
of the cash market open.
* Fashion retailer Primark's sales were dented by unseasonable weather in
May, its owner Associated British Foods ABF.L said. * Britain's second-largest homebuilder Persimmon PSN.L reported lower
first-half revenue after its greater focus on quality and improving customer
service slowed down order intake. * Israel-focused gas driller Energean ENOG.L said it will buy Italian
energy group Edison's EDNn.MI oil and natural gas unit for an initial
consideration of $750 million. * WOODFORD: British asset manager Woodford Investment Management is planning
to cut staff at its offices in Oxford in central England after the suspension of
the firm's flagship 3.7 billion pound ($4.65 billion) fund a month ago.
* GOLD: Gold prices inched up, supported by a decline in U.S. Treasury
yields amid prospects of an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve, while
investors sought direction from upcoming U.S. non-farm payrolls data.
* OIL: Oil prices inched lower after solid gains the day before, pressured
by data showing a smaller-than-expected decline in U.S. crude stockpiles.
* The UK blue chip index closed 0.7% higher on Wednesday, as sterling fell
after weak economic data, which aided exporter firms, reinforced bets that the
Bank of England would cut interest rates and drove investors to high-dividend
stocks. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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