UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on March 12

(Adds futures, news items)
March 12 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 13
points lower at 6,724 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures
.FFIc1 down 0.39% ahead of the cash market open.

* BERKELEY GROUP: Berkeley Group BKGH.L reiterated its annual profit
forecast as it benefits from pent-up demand and tax breaks for
home-buyers. * LOOKERS: Britain's accounting watchdog said it had opened an investigation
into audits conducted by Deloitte of car dealership operator
Lookers. * HAMMERSON: Hammerson HMSO.L posted a 1.7 billion pound loss for 2020 as
the COVID-19 pandemic battered the retail sector. * JD SPORTS: JD Sports Fashion JD.L has entered central and eastern Europe
after agreeing to buy 60% of Poland's Marketing Investment Group. * BURBERRY: Burberry BRBY.L said it had seen a strong rebound in sales
since December. * BARCLAYS: A judge ruled Barclays will have to pay its own 33 million pound
legal bill despite winning a case against British businesswoman Amanda
Staveley's PCP Capital Group over how the bank negotiated a financial lifeline
during the credit crisis in 2008. * ASTRAZENECA: Washington has told the European Union that it should not
expect to receive AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) AZN.L COVID-19 vaccines manufactured in the
United States any time soon, two EU sources said. Separately, in a document seen
by Reuters, AstraZeneca AZN.L cut its supply forecast of COVID-19 vaccines to
the European Union in the first quarter to about 30 million
doses. * ECONOMY: Britain's economy shrank by a less severe than expected 2.9% in
January from December, official data showed. * COVID-19: British finance minister Rishi Sunak said the data showing a
2.9% drop in economic output during January showed how COVID-19 continued to
affect the economy. * TRADE: Exports and imports from Britain to the European Union plunged
during the first month of the country's new trade relationship with the bloc,
according to data published. * INSURANCE: Motor insurance claims in Britain fell 19% in 2020 and rates
stayed at a four-year low. * GOLD: Gold prices retreated as firmer U.S. bond yields and a strong dollar
weighed on the metal. * OIL: Brent crude prices eased as production cuts by major oil producers
constrained supply. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.2% higher on Thursday as firmer
commodity prices boosted mining and energy stocks, while HSBC traded ex-dividend
and AstraZeneca sank on doubts over its COVID-19 vaccine. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
LIVE/
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times PRESS/FT
> Other business headlines PRESS/GB