Gold prices steady ahead of Fed decision, Trump’s tariff deadline
(Adds company news items, futures)
Nov 4 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 46 points
higher at 5,833 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures
down 0.90% ahead of cash market open.
* MARKS AND SPENCER: British retailer Marks and Spencer MKS.L slumped to a
first-half loss, the first in its 94 years as a publicly listed company, after
clothing sales were hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic. * PROVIDENT FINANCIAL: Doorstep lender Provident Financial Plc PFG.L said
collection performance in its home credit business has now aligned with
pre-coronavirus levels, with the company on track to meet market expectations
for the year. * MITIE GROUP: Outsourcer Mitie Group MTO.L said it would now issue fewer
shares to buy rival Interserve's support services arm, lowering the deal value
to 190 million pounds ($274 million), while saying its board does not plan to
declare an interim dividend. * GOLD: Gold fell as the dollar strengthened after U.S. President Donald
Trump grabbed an early lead in the key state of Florida, muddying the path for
his Democratic rival Joe Biden. * OIL: Oil rose around 2% after industry data showed crude inventories in
the United States fell sharply, but trading was choppy as the outcome of the
U.S. presidential election remained unclear. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 2.3% higher on Tuesday, getting a
boost from banks on rising bets of more stimulus measures to soften the economic
blow from a new wave of coronavirus infections. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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($1 = 0.7686 pounds)