June 19 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 (.FTSE) index is seen opening six points higher at 6,230 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures (FFIc1) rising 0.51% ahead of cash markets open.
WOOD GROUP: Engineering and consultancy company Wood Group Plc (WG.L) said it expects its first-half core earnings to drop 19%, as the slump in oil prices led to delays in order intake.
GULF KEYSTONE PETROLEUM: London-listed oil producer Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP.L) said it would cut about 40% of its workforce.
RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto RIO.AX (RIO.L) launched a board-led review into how the miner destroyed two ancient and sacred Aboriginal caves in Western Australia.
UK MARKETS: Britain's markets watchdog proposed enabling consumers to extend a payment freeze on their credit cards by a further three months.
RETAIL: British retail sales rebounded much more strongly than expected last month but public borrowing came in at a record high, as the country gradually relaxed its coronavirus lockdown.
PRUDENTIAL: Prudential (PRU.L) sold a minority stake in its U.S. business, Jackson, to Apollo Global-backed Athene Holding ATH.N for $500 million.
LLOYD'S OF LONDON: The Lloyd's of London insurance market apologised on Thursday for its role in the 18th and 19th Century Atlantic slave trade and pledged to fund opportunities for black and ethnic minority people.
OIL: Oil prices pushed higher in early trade, building on gains in the previous session, after OPEC producers and allies promised to meet their supply cut commitments.
GOLD: Gold prices edged higher, with the metal's safe-haven demand supported by concerns over a second wave of coronavirus infections.
METAL: London copper prices were little changed on Friday, as worries over the risks of a second coronavirus wave were offset by hopes of a recovery in the global economy as countries got out of lockdown.
The UK blue-chip index (.FTSE) closed down 0.5% on Thursday, after the Bank of England's slowed the pace of its huge bond-buying programme, while a surge in coronavirus cases in the United States and China fanned fears of a second wave of infections.
UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Record PLC (LON:RECL) (RECL.L) Earnings Releases
John Wood Group PLC (LON:WG) (WG.L) Sales/Trading Stmt Releases
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