UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Dec. 16

(Adds futures, news items)
Dec 16 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 28 points higher
at 6,541 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures up 0.43%
ahead of the cash market open.

* TRAVIS PERKINS: Britain's Travis Perkins TPK.L said it would return
business rates relief and job retention scheme money for its Wickes and
Toolstation stores after it continued to see strong demand in the DIY
market. * BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO: British American Tobacco BATS.L , the maker of
Dunhill and Lucky Strike cigarettes, said its COVID-19 vaccine candidate was
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Phase I human
study. * Dixons Carphone: Dixons Carphone DC.L reported a big rise in first-half
profit, with a strong online performance more than offsetting the forced closure
of its stores during COVID-19 lockdowns. BP: BP BP.L has acquired a majority stake in the largest U.S. carbon
offset developer, Finite Carbon, the oil major said, as part of its climate
goals and to develop a new revenue stream. * SUPERDRY: British fashion retailer Superdry SDRY.L said its founder and
interim Chief Executive Officer Julian Dunkerton would permanently transition to
the top job. * RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto RIO.AX said underground mining at its biggest
growth project, the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia, would achieve
sustainable production by October 2022, according to a definitive estimate for
its first panel of mining. * AIRLINES: Britain's competition regulator said it would investigate
whether airlines had breached consumers' legal rights by failing to offer cash
refunds for flights they could not legally take due to lockdown
rules. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE pared its losses to about 0.3% on Tuesday
with consumer staples weighing the most. British mid-cap stocks gained ground in
the final hour of trading as renewed hopes of a Brexit trade agreement
overshadowed concerns over a weak labour market report and concerns over new
restrictions in London. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times PRESS/FT
> Other business headlines PRESS/GB