(Adds futures, news items)
May 29 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening 52 points lower on Friday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures FFIc1 down 0.9%.
* B&M: B&M BMEB.L said it had traded strongly over the last two months, driven by exceptional demand for do-it-yourself and gardening products during the national lockdown.
* NATIONWIDE: Nationwide Building Society's POB_p.L annual profit fell by 44%, it said as it warned of rising loan losses because of the coronavirus pandemic.
* SIG: SIG Plc SHI.L plans to raise 150 million pounds in new equity with U.S. buyout firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, it said, as it pointed to a bleak outlook after "disappointing" results.
* JOBS: Britain cannot run its COVID-19 jobs protection scheme indefinitely and needs to start tapering it down as people slowly return to work, environment minister George Eustice said.
* AUTOMOBILE: British car production could slump this year to the lowest level in decades after the pandemic forced factories to close and hit demand, according to an industry body.
* ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca's AZN.L top-selling drug Tagrisso has been shown to hold back a certain type of lung cancer when diagnosed at an early stage, the British drugmaker said on Thursday.
* GOLD: Gold inched up and was on track for its second monthly gain as deteriorating U.S.-China ties in a world reeling from the virus outbreak rattled investors and fuelled demand for the safe-haven metal.
* OIL: Oil prices edged lower after U.S. inventory data showed lacklustre fuel demand in the world's largest oil consumer.
* UK shares ended higher on Thursday, helped by drugmakers AstraZeneca and GSK as markets looked for more progress in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine.
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