UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Sept 10

(Adds company news item and futures)
Sept 10 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 17
points lower at 5,996 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures down 0.5% ahead of cash market open.
* BRITISH LAND: Real estate firm British Land Co Plc BLND.L said its Chief
Executive Officer Chris Grigg would step down after being at the helm for 11
years. * DIXONS CARPHONE: British electrical goods retailer Dixons Carphone Plc
DC.L reported lower mobile phone sales in 17 weeks to Aug. 29 on Thursday and
said it was in early stages of exploring the listing of a minority stake of its
Nordics business next year. * DUNELM: British home furnishing retailer Dunelm DNLM.L said it has
outperformed expectations so far this year and expects to pay an interim
dividend next year provided it faces no further hits from the COVID-19
pandemic. * MORRISONS: Morrisons MRW.L , Britain's fourth largest supermarket group,
reported a 25.3% fall in first-half profit, hurt by costs related to the
COVID-19 pandemic, but said it expected profit growth for the full year.
* ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca Plc AZN.L said its asthma treatment for a
chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal passage linings, or sinuses, met main
goals in a late-stage study. * SAGA: Saga SAGA.L unveiled a new plan that included a digital push as
the British company takes steps to navigate through a coronavirus-hit market
under its new boss Euan Sutherland. * GOLD: Gold steadied near a one-week high on Thursday as the dollar
weakened, but the yellow metal traded in a narrow $8 range as investors held
back from making large bets ahead of the European Central Bank's monetary policy
decision due later in the day. * OIL: Oil prices slid on Thursday after data showed U.S. crude stockpiles
unexpectedly rose last week, stoking concern about a sluggish recovery in fuel
demand as coronavirus cases continue to surge in many countries. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE ended 1.4% higher on Wednesday, as weakness
in the pound looked to benefit major exporters, while the mid-cap index was held
back by consumer stocks on fears of new restrictions on social activity.
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