May 17 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is expected to open 23
points lower at 7,331 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers.
* METRO BANK: Embattled British lender Metro Bank MTRO.L has raised 375
million pounds ($479.63 million) of vital capital to shore up its finances just
hours after launching a discounted funding round on Thursday. * LLOYDS BANKING: Lloyds Banking Group LLOY.L has defended the 6.3 million
pound ($8.06 million) pay package awarded to chief executive Antonio
Horta-Osorio, after criticism from politicians and investor trade bodies.
* BT Group: The new boss of Britain's BT Group BT.L will give each
employee 500 pounds ($641) worth of shares, at a total cost of 50 million
pounds, in one of his first moves to drive better performance at the telecoms
giant. * OIL: Oil prices rose again on Friday and were on track for the first
weekly gains this month, as rising tensions in the Middle East stoked fears of
supply disruptions. * GOLD: Gold extended its losses on Friday, following its biggest one-day
percentage loss in a month in the previous session on a firmer dollar and as a
strong U.S. data, corporate results boosted investor appetite for riskier
assets. * The UK blue chip index closed 0.78% higher at 7353.51 on Thursday as
rallying banks and mining stocks lifted Britain's FTSE 100, but weak earnings
hit luxury brand Burberry BRBY.L and Thomas Cook TCG.L was floored by a
profit warning.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
LIVE/
* UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Future Plc FUTR.L Half year result
easyJet plc EZJ.L Half year result
Hikma Pharmaceuticals Plc HIK.L Trading statement
Sage Group Plc SGE.L Half year result
IntegraFin Holdings plc IHPI.L Half year result
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
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($1 = 0.7819 pounds)