UK Stocks-Factors to watch on July 26

By Reuters / July 27, 2018 / in.investing.com / Article Link

July 26 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 6 points higher at 7,664 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.

* GSK: A U.S. Food and Drug Administration expert panel on Wednesday did not support approval of GlaxoSmithKline Plc's GSK.L drug Nucala in treating a disease that limits airflow to the lungs. ANGLO AMERICAN: Peru's President Martin Vizcarra will announce the start of Anglo American 's AAL.L copper project Quellaveco on Thursday, Vizcarra's office said in a statement. JOHN MENZIES: John Menzies MNZS.L is set to announce the sale of its newspaper distribution arm to private equity investor Endless for about 70 million pounds ($92.4 million), Sky News reported on Wednesday. GOLD: Gold prices held steady on Thursday as the dollar eased after U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker agreed to work towards eliminating trade barriers, easing immediate concerns about global trade tensions. OIL: Brent crude led oil prices higher, extending gains into a third day after Saudi Arabia suspended crude shipments through a strategic Red Sea shipping lane and as data showed U.S. inventories fell to a 3-1/2 year low. EX-DIVS: Royal Mail RMG.L and SSE Plc SSE.L will trade without entitlement to their latest dividend pay-out on Thursday, trimming 3.18 points off the FTSE 100 according to Reuters calculations. The UK blue chip FTSE 100 .FTSE index fell 0.7 percent and closed at 7,658.26 points on Wednesday, as mining stocks lost ground, with earnings in focus as ITV (LON:ITV) and Informa issued updates. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

Shell

RDSa.L

Q2 2018 Earnings Release Virgin Money Holdings (UK)

VM.L

Half Year 2018 Earnings Release Morgan Advanced Materials

MGAMM.L Half Year 2018 Earnings Release EVRAZ plc

EVRE.L

Q2 2018 Production Results Relx PLC

REL.L

Half Year 2018 Earnings Release Johnson Matthey PLC

JMAT.L