Aug 14 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening 13 points higher at 6,199 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures (FFIc1) roughly flat ahead of cash markets open.
EASYJET: Low-cost airline easyJet said it raised an extra $266 million to boost its finances during the pandemic from the sale and leaseback of five aircraft, concluding its plan to raise cash from leasing companies.
COVID-19 VACCINE: The UK government has sealed two more deals to secure COVID-19 vaccines, buying shots in development from U.S. drugmakers Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) and Novavax Inc, the chair of the UK Vaccine Taskforce Katie Bingham told Sky News.
TRAVEL: Britain will impose a 14-day quarantine on all arrivals from France, the Netherlands, Malta and three other countries, transport minister Grant Shapps said on Thursday.
OIL: Oil prices advanced and were heading for a second week of gains amid growing confidence that demand for fuel is starting to pick up despite the coronavirus pandemic that has slammed economies worldwide.
GOLD: Gold fought for traction as a jump in U.S. Treasury yields forced investors to reassess their positions again after a steep retreat from a record peak earlier this week.
METAL: Shanghai copper prices were set to rack up a loss for the week, as disappointing data from China and uncertainty around a U.S. stimulus package squeezed prices.
The UK blue-chip index (.FTSE) declined 1.5% on Thursday, as a clutch of blue-chip firms traded ex-dividend, while National Express Group (LON:NEX) slumped after reporting a pre-tax loss for the first half of the year.
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