(Adds futures, news items)
Jan 20 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 23
points higher at 6,736 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures .FFIc1 up 0.3% ahead of cash market open.
* BURBERRY: Burberry BRBY.L said underlying sales fell 9% in the three
months ended December as the COVID-19 pandemic closed shops and meant fewer
tourists visiting its European stores. * PEARSON: Pearson PSON.L said group sales fell by 10% in 2020, marking an
improvement in the final quarter, as growth in online learning demand offset
cancelled exams. * JD WETHERSPOON: Wetherspoon JDW.L said it raised 93.7 million pounds in
its second cash call from investors since the start of the COVID-19
pandemic. * DIXONS CARPHONE: Dixons Carphone DC.L reported a rise in sales of
electricals over Christmas as a strong online performance more than offset the
closure of stores during COVID-19 lockdowns. * CAIRN ENERGY: Cairn Energy CNE.L said it plans to spend around $85 mln
this year with the bulk going to the exploration and appraisal of wells in
Britain and Mexico. * WH SMITH: WH Smith Plc SMWH.L said it expects a monthly cash burn of
about 15 million pounds to 20 million pounds during the current coronavirus-led
lockdown in Britain. * IWG: IWG IWG.L said it expects further delay to business recovery in
2021 and set aside an additional 160 million pounds provisions related to the
pandemic as the latest COVID-19 restrictions impact its markets. * CMC MARKETS: Online trading platform CMC Markets CMCX.L warned on
Wednesday client activity in the third quarter eased compared with earlier in
the financial year, when market volatility was the highest since the 2008
financial crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. * INFLATION: British inflation gathered speed in December as a temporary
easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions helped to push up air and sea fares and a
rise in global oil prices made fuel more expensive, official data
showed. * GOLD: Gold prices rose as the dollar weakened after U.S. Treasury
Secretary nominee Janet Yellen underscored the need for a huge stimulus to help
the economy recover from the coronavirus jolt. * OIL: Oil prices rose on expectations the incoming U.S. administration will
go ahead with massive stimulus spending that would boost fuel demand and draw
down crude stocks. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.1% lower on Tuesday as Ladbrokes
owner Entain slumped after U.S. casino operator MGM opted out of a $11 billion
takeover plan, while miners also dragged. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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