(Adds company news items and futures)
Oct 24 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 8 points
lower at 7,253
on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, with FFIc1 down 0.07% ahead of
cash market open.
* ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca Plc AZN.L raised its annual product sales
forecast for the second time this year, as it profited from strong demand for
new cancer treatments Tagrisso and Lynparza as well as 40% growth in China.
* SSE: The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it was looking
into whether OVO Energy's 500 million pound ($646.00 million) deal to buy power
company SSE Plc's SSE.L retail arm will lessen competition in the United
Kingdom. * Coca-Cola European Partners CCEPC.L said it had a slower-than-expected
start to its fourth quarter due to weakening demand in France and Britain as
well as unfavourable weather in October in most markets. * WOODFORD PATIENT CAPITAL TRUST: The board of Woodford Patient Capital
Trust Plc WPCT.L said it has appointed asset manager Schroders SDR.L as its
new portfolio manager, following Neil Woodford's abrupt exit last week.
* ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND: Royal Bank of Scotland RBS.L said it had swung
to a third-quarter loss, after making a fresh 900 million pound ($1.16 billion)
provision to settle mis-selling claims in Britain's biggest consumer banking
scandal. * GOLD: Gold held ground above $1,490 per ounce as investors awaited clarity
on Brexit after the European Union delayed a decision on granting an extension
to Britain, and the U.S. central bank policy meeting for clues on the interest
rate trajectory. * OIL: Oil prices dipped after sharp gains in the previous session following
a surprise draw in U.S. crude inventories, with concerns over a weak demand
outlook adding to downward pressure. * EX-DIVS: Ferguson FERG.L , ITV ITV.L will trade without entitlement to
its latest dividend pay-out on Thursday, trimming 1.4 points off the FTSE 100
according to Reuters calculations.
* The UK blue chip index closed 0.7% higher on Wednesday as oil majors
tracked gains in crude prices and miners .FTNMX1770 benefited from a rise in
nickel and copper prices. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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