Oct 29 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 8 points lower at
5,575
on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.
* ASTRAZENECA: Senior sources in the British government expect that a
verdict on whether Pfizer Inc-backed PFE.N COVID-19 vaccine works will be
available before the results are in on AstraZeneca Plc's AZN.L competing
vaccine, the Times reported. * STANDARD CHARTERED: Standard Chartered STAN.L said third-quarter profit
slid 40% on higher credit impairment resulting from the coronavirus pandemic and
lower interest rates, although a tighter rein on costs helped it beat
expectations. * ASTON MARTIN: British luxury car maker Aston Martin AML.L is testing
investor appetite for risky assets days before the U.S. election with a
840-million-pound junk bond sale, one of the largest deals of its kind in Europe
this year. * GOLD: Gold edged up after a plunge in the previous session as surging
global coronavirus cases and fears of a contested U.S. presidential election
spurred demand, although a strong dollar capped gains. * OIL: Oil prices rose in early trading, regaining some of the ground lost
in a 5% slump overnight, amid the prospect of tighter short-term supply with
two-thirds of U.S. output shut in the Gulf of Mexico as Hurricane Zeta slammed
Louisiana. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 2.6% lower on Wednesday as investors
dumped riskier assets on fears of more lockdowns and uncertainty over a British
trade deal with the EU. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
EVRAZ Plc EVRE.L Q3 trading update
Angle Plc AGLE.L HY earnings
BT Group Plc BT.L HY earnings
Smith & Nephew Plc SN.L Q3 trading statement
WPP Plc WPP.L Q3 trading statement
KAZ Minerals Plc KAZ.L Q3 production report
Indivior Plc INDV.L Q3 earnings
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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