UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on March 16

(Adds futures, news items)
March 16 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 36
points higher at 6,785 on Tuesday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures .FFIc1 up 0.59% ahead of the cash market open.

* GREGGS: Greggs GRG.L reported its first annual loss since listing on the
stock exchange in 1984 after the COVID-19 pandemic hammered shopper
numbers. * FERGUSON: Ferguson FERG.L raised its dividend and announced a share
buyback after posting a higher half-year profit. * ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) AZN.L has agreed to supply up to half a million
additional doses of its experimental antibody-based COVID-19 combination
treatment to the United States for $205 million. Separately, the European
medicines regulator said it would hold a meeting this week on the information
gathered into whether the AstraZeneca AZN.L COVID-19 vaccine contributed to
thromboembolic events in those inoculated. * VODAFONE: Vodafone Group's VOD.L infrastructure unit Vantage Towers has
covered the books on its initial public offering of shares in Frankfurt at a
revised price range of 24 to 25 euros per share, a bookrunner on the deal
said. * WIZZ AIR: Wizz Air's WIZZ.L largest investor Indigo Partners sold about
half its stake in the Hungary-based low cost airline to institutional investors,
a statement said. * UNITE GROUP: Unite Group UTG.L said it expects strong demand for the
upcoming academic year. * JUST GROUP: Just Group JUSTJ.L reported an 11% rise in annual
earnings. * ANTOFAGASTA: Antofagasta ANTO.L said full-year profit rose 12.3% in
2020, allowing it to increase its dividends. * JOHN WOOD GROUP: Wood Plc WG.L said it would not pay a 2020 final
dividend and posted a 26.3% drop in full-year core earnings. * NATWEST: Britain's financial regulator said it had launched criminal
proceedings against a unit of NatWest NWG.L over offences under money
laundering laws. * TRUSTPILOT: Trustpilot has set a price range for its upcoming initial
public offering in London of 250 pence to 365 pence per share. * BREXIT: The European Union launched legal action against Britain on Monday
for unilaterally changing trading arrangements for Northern Ireland that
Brussels says breach the Brexit divorce deal agreed with London last
year. * GOLD: Gold prices firmed as U.S. Treasury yields eased. * OIL: Oil prices fell as rising stockpiles in the United States added to
concerns about risks to demand as countries including Germany and France halt
COVID-19 vaccinations. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.2% lower on Monday as weakness in
commodities-linked stocks offset initial gains. 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