(Adds futures, news items)
Nov 13 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 26
points lower at 7,340 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures FFIc1 down 0.6% ahead of the cash market open.
* UNILEVER: Consumer goods giant Unilever ULVR.L , UNc.AS named
non-executive director Nils Andersen as its new chairman, replacing Marijn
Dekkers who has decided to step down immediately. * SSE: Utility SSE Plc SSE.L posted higher first-half adjusted pretax
profit, but warned that uncertainties around the UK general election next month
and the opposition Labour Party's campaign for sector's nationalisation posed a
challenging environment. * MULBERRY: British luxury brand Mulberry MUL.L said its first-half loss
had widened, blaming investment costs and a tough UK trading environment.
* TAYLOR WIMPEY: Britain's third-largest homebuilder Taylor Wimpey Plc
TW.L said it continued to see good demand for its homes in the second half,
even as the market grappled with Brexit worries and rising costs. * WIZZ AIR: Wizz Air Holdings Plc WIZZ.L raised the bottom end of its
annual profit forecast, months after it boosted its capacity, as the budget
airline benefits from a strong start to the year while struggling rivals cut
expansion plans. * ONESAVINGS BANK: Lenders OneSavings Bank Plc OSBO.L and Charter Court
Financial reported bigger loan portfolios for the nine-month period in their
first results after their merger. * J D WETHERSPOON: Pub operator J D Wetherspoon Plc JDW.L posted higher
first-quarter total sales, as customers spent more money at its nearly 900 pubs
across Britain and Ireland. * TULLOW OIL: Africa-focussed Tullow Oil TLW.L cut its 2019 oil production
outlook and forecast lower free cash flow for the year due to problems at its
Ghana fields. * NATIONAL GRID: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday gave UK energy
company National Grid Plc NG.L 14 days to explain why the state should not
revoke the utility's certificate to operate its gas franchise in downstate New
York, saying that it had failed to provide "adequate and reliable service."
* GOLD: Gold prices rose on Wednesday after a speech by U.S. President
Donald Trump dashed hopes for a positive sign on a U.S.-China trade deal,
prompting investors to seek safety in the metal. * OIL: Oil prices dipped on Wednesday as prospects for a trade deal between
the United States and China dimmed, weighing on the outlook for the global
economy and energy demand. * The UK blue-chip index closed up 0.5% on Tuesday as renewed hopes of a
U.S.-China trade resolution and a more than 3% rise in shares of telecom giant
Vodafone helped it bounce back. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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