UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Jan 18

By Reuters / January 18, 2017 / in.investing.com / Article Link

Jan 18 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 14 points higher on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers.

* The UK blue chip index closed 1.5 percent lower at 7,220.38 points, posting its biggest one-day drop since June 2016 on Tuesday, with a jump in sterling following Prime Minister Theresa May's speech on Brexit hurting dollar-earning companies. DEUTSCHE BOERSE/LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE: Germany and the European Central Bank are pushing harder for Deutsche Boerse DB1Gn.DE and the London Stock Exchange LSE.L to give Frankfurt a greater role once they merge, now Britain is leaving the European Union, people involved said. ROLLS-ROYCE: Rolls-Royce Plc RR.L agreed to pay authorities more than $800 million to resolve charges of bribing officials in six countries in schemes that lasted more than a decade, the U.S. Justice Department and UK Serious Fraud Office said in statements on Tuesday. VEDANTA RESOURCES: Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), owned by global conglomerate Vedanta Resources PLC VED.L , will pay the first tranche of a $100 million fine to the Zambian government by the end of month, the country's investment firm said on Tuesday. DIAGEO: Diageo Plc DGE.L , which makes Johnnie Walker Scotch and Smirnoff vodka, is mulling an increase of its majority stake in India's United Spirits Ltd UNSP.NS , although no final decision has been made yet, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. (http://bloom.bg/2jlUhE6)

* ADVERTISING SPEND: British companies spent 2.1 percent more on advertising last year, according to an industry forecast, after a strong fourth quarter, although spending on advertising is set to fall 0.7 percent in 2017 as Brexit uncertainties weigh. UK REFERENDUM: Ireland's central bank has had over 100 inquiries from UK financial firms considering moving operations as a result of Britain's vote to leave the European Union, Finance Minister Michael Noonan said on Tuesday. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets

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