Oct 6 - Britain's FTSE 100 (.FTSE) index is seen opening 16 points higher at 5,959 on Tuesday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures down 0.03% ahead of cash markets open.
Restaurant Group: Frankie and Benny's owner Restaurant Group (RTN.L) slipped into a first-half loss and withdrew its forecast, with renewed coronavirus restrictions in the UK forcing it to retain a cautious outlook for the short term.
Premier Oil: Premier Oil (PMO.L) said it has reached an all-share merger deal with oil exploration and production company Chrysaor that will result in a cash payment of $1.23 billion to creditors of the debt-saddled British firm.
Finablr: Finablr (FINF.L) said technology and software solutions firm Prism Advance Solutions has made a takeover offer for the UK-listed payments group that includes restructuring and settlement of its debts, but gave no further details on the bid size.
Hovis: Milan-listed Newlat Food (NWLF.MI) said on Monday it had made a non-binding offer for Hovis, the 134-year old British bread maker, which is owned by Premier Foods (PFD.L) and The Gores Group.
Virgin Atlantic: Virgin Atlantic has started testing cabin crew and pilots for COVID-19 on some flights, as industry hopes grow the British government is close to allowing more widespread airport testing that could help the country's travel sector recover.
Oil: Oil prices edged higher in early trade on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House after being admitted to a hospital for COVID-19 treatment last Friday, while another storm brewed in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
Gold: Gold prices dipped on Tuesday, as equities gained after U.S. President Donald Trump was discharged from hospital after treatment for a coronavirus infection, though a softer dollar limited losses.
The UK blue-chip index (.FTSE) closed 0.7% higher on Monday, lifted by oil stocks as crude prices jumped after doctors treating U.S. President Donald Trump for COVID-19 hinted that he was doing well, while Cineworld (CINE.L) fell sharply after it said it was considering temporarily closing all U.S. and UK screens.
UK corporate diary:
Restaurant Group Plc (RTN.L) Interim results