Nov 19 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 59 points lower at 6,327 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.
BT: BT BT.L Chief Executive Philip Jansen is "open-minded" about the possibility of selling a stake in the British company's Openreach infrastructure unit once there is full clarity on the regulation of fibre networks next year, he said on Wednesday.
TRADE DEAL: Canada and the United Kingdom are closer to signing a new trade agreement, which will replace the existing deal Britain has through European Union membership, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday.
GOLD: Gold prices inched lower as a firmer dollar and progress in COVID-19 vaccine developments offset concerns over spiking virus cases in the United States and hopes of more stimulus.
OIL: Oil futures eased surrendering some gains from the previous day as the surge in coronavirus cases and tighter economic restrictions around the globe stoked fears over slower fuel demand, outweighing upbeat vaccine news.
The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.3% higher on Wednesday as hopes of a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union and further positive vaccine data from drugmaker Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) offset concerns about economic damage from surging coronavirus cases.
UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Naked Wines Plc
HY earnings Kingfisher Plc
Q3 trading statement Royal Mail Group Plc
HY earnings Johnson Matthey Plc
HY earnings Helma Plc
HY earnings Keller Group Plc
Q3 trading statement Syncona Plc
HY earnings CMC Markets Plc
HY earnings Londonmetric Property Plc
HY earnings Mitie Group PLc
HY earnings Jet2 Plc
HY earnings Close Brothers Group Plc
Q1 trading update Investec Plc
HY earnings Grainger Plc
FY earnings Euromoney Institutional Investor Plc
FY earnings