(Adds company news items, futures)
July 5 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening two
points lower at 7,602 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures
FFIc1 down 0.08% ahead of the cash market open.
* AQUIS EXCHANGE: Bourse services group Aquis Exchange AQX.L will buy
British growth stocks platform NEX Exchange from CME Group CME.O for a nominal
one pound plus 2.7 million pounds ($3.4 million) to cover NEX's working capital,
Aquis said on Friday. * SIG: Building materials supplier SIG Plc SHI.L reported 3.8% lower
like-for-like sales for the first half of the year as construction activity fell
in the second quarter in the face of challenging market conditions in the UK and
Ireland. * JOHN MENZIES: UK aviation servicing company John Menzies Plc MNZS.L
said it expects lower annual profit, hurt by aviation market challenges, weak
cargo volumes and flight schedule reductions. * ENERGEAN: Israel-focused Energean ENOG.L said on Thursday has agreed to
buy the oil and gas division of Italian energy company Edison EDNn.MI for up
to $850 million. * GLENCORE: Congolese security forces evicted thousands of illegal miners
from a copper and cobalt mine run by Glencore GLEN.L on Thursday, sparking
angry protests outside the governor's office and looting of shops, local
activists said. * GOLD: Gold prices edged higher and were on track for a seventh consecutive
weekly gain, as investors awaited U.S. employment data that could influence
expectations about aggressive policy easing by the Federal Reserve. * OIL: Crude oil prices fell as concerns over the outlook for global
economic growth outweighed elevated tensions in the Middle East that could
disrupt supply routes and send prices higher. * The UK blue chip index closed 0.1% lower on Thursday, while shares of IAG
and Coca Cola HBC slid as they traded ex-dividend, though several investors
stayed on the sidelines during the U.S. market holiday. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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