(Adds futures and company news items)
June 19 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening six
points higher at 6,230 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures FFIc1 rising 0.51% ahead of cash markets open.
* WOOD GROUP: Engineering and consultancy company Wood Group Plc WG.L
said it expects its first-half core earnings to drop 19%, as the slump in oil
prices led to delays in order intake. * GULF KEYSTONE PETROLEUM: London-listed oil producer Gulf Keystone
Petroleum GKP.L said it would cut about 40% of its workforce. * RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto RIO.AX RIO.L launched a board-led review into how
the miner destroyed two ancient and sacred Aboriginal caves in Western
Australia. * UK MARKETS: Britain's markets watchdog proposed enabling consumers to
extend a payment freeze on their credit cards by a further three
months. * RETAIL: British retail sales rebounded much more strongly than expected
last month but public borrowing came in at a record high, as the country
gradually relaxed its coronavirus lockdown. * OIL: Oil prices pushed higher in early trade, building on gains in the
previous session, after OPEC producers and allies promised to meet their supply
cut commitments. * GOLD: Gold prices edged higher, with the metal's safe-haven demand
supported by concerns over a second wave of coronavirus infections. * METAL: London copper prices were little changed on Friday, as worries over
the risks of a second coronavirus wave were offset by hopes of a recovery in the
global economy as countries got out of lockdown. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed down 0.5% on Thursday, after the
Bank of England's slowed the pace of its huge bond-buying programme, while a
surge in coronavirus cases in the United States and China fanned fears of a
second wave of infections. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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