UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on May 6

(Adds news items, futures)
May 6 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 6 points
higher at 7,045 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures
FFIc1 seen up 0.09% ahead of cash market open.

* NEXT: Next NXT.L raised its 2021-22 profit forecast for the second time
in two months as it reported better than expected first quarter
trading. * MELROSE: Melrose Industries MRON.L warned its growth would be hit by a
shortage of semiconductors in the global automotive supply chain. * BARRATT DEVELOPMENTS: Barratt Developments Plc BDEV.L said it expected
to increase wholly-owned completions to between 16,000 and 16,250 homes this
year, ahead of its previous estimates. * ASTON MARTIN: Aston Martin AML.L posted a smaller first quarter loss in
2021 of 42.2 million pounds and said it continued to take steps towards
profitability. * SUPERDRY: Superdry SDRY.L said it returned to growth in its fourth
quarter, helped by online and wholesale. * REACH: Reach Plc RCH.L said its annual operating profit would come in
above market expectations after it reported strong revenue growth from its
digital business for the first four months of the year. * ALPHAWAVE IP GROUP: Alphawave IPO Group has set a price range for its
planned London listing of 375 pence to 430 pence per share, putting it on course
for a valuation of up to 3.2 billion pounds, bookrunner JPMorgan
said. * CONSTRUCTION: Britain's construction sector is seeing the biggest increase
in its workload in five years, led by a strong demand for housing and the
resumption of other projects as the coronavirus pandemic eases, a quarterly
survey showed. * GOLD: Gold prices edged higher as a dip in U.S. treasury yields offset
pressure from a stronger dollar. * OIL: Oil prices rose as crude stockpiles in the United States fell more
sharply than expected, as refining output rose and exports surged. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 1.8% higher on Wednesday, supported
by gains in heavyweight mining and banking stocks on recovery
optimism. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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