(Adds futures, news items)
Oct 29 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on
Tuesday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.2% to 7301, ahead of the cash market open.
* BP: BP's BP.L third-quarter profit dropped sharply, but still beat
expectations, hurt by weaker oil prices, lower production and one-off charges
linked to large divestments. * HUNTING: British oilfield services firm Hunting Plc HTG.L warned its
annual core profit would be at the lower end of market expectations as it
grapples with a slowdown in the U.S. onshore drilling market.
* PLUS500: Online trading platform Plus500 Ltd PLUSP.L reported a jump in
third-quarter revenue, as more customers signed up to trade in a volatile period
for financial markets driven by the U.S.-China trade spat and Brexit.
* HOUSE PRICES: Growth in British house prices, which has slowed almost to a
halt ahead of Brexit, picked up a bit of speed in October after touching an
eight-month low in September, according to a survey from mortgage lender
Nationwide. * AFRICAN EXPORT-IMPORT BANK: The African Export-Import Bank AEIBy.MZ has
postponed a planned initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange, citing
unfavourable market conditions for its decision. * BHP: Unionized workers at BHP's BHPB.L Escondida copper mine, the
world's largest, said late on Monday they would walk off the job for part of the
work day on Tuesday in a show of solidarity with protests in Chile. * JUST EAT: The takeover battle for British food delivery ordering service
Just Eat JE.L heated up on Monday as a key shareholder accused German peer
Delivery Hero DHER.DE of undermining one of the two rival offers. * BP: BP Plc BP.L is still looking to close its deal with Bunge Ltd BG.N
to merge sugar and ethanol assets in Brazil in 2019, so the companies can go on
to plan their operations together for the new cane season that starts in early
2020. * GOLD: Gold prices were little changed, hovering around the key $1,490 an
ounce level as progress in China-U.S. trade talks sent equities soaring, while
anticipation ahead of major central bank meetings in the week provided some
support. * OIL: Oil prices slipped as investors awaited U.S. crude inventory data for
a pointer on oil demand trends, while concerns about slower economic growth
overshadowed signs of a thawing in the trade war between Washington and Beijing.
* The blue chip index closed 0.1% higher, recovering from early losses on
Monday despite a rebound in sterling, boosted by gains in leading drug stocks
and as prospects for a U.S.-China trade agreement powered miners and
industrials. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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