Nov 20 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 14 points higher at 6,348 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers.
BREXIT: Chief Brexit negotiators suspended direct talks on Thursday after a member of the EU team tested positive for COVID-19, but officials continued working remotely to clinch an EU-UK trade deal that would come into force in just six weeks.
GOLD: Gold prices fell after U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin called for an end to some of the Federal Reserve's pandemic lending, sparking uncertainty about stimulus programmes that have played a key role in reassuring financial markets.
OIL: U.S. oil prices slipped, dropping for a second day as concerns mounted about the hit to demand from the surge in COVID-19 infections forcing new lockdowns, but prices were supported by signs of movement on a stimulus deal in Washington.
The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.8% lower on Thursday as uncertainty over a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union and surging COVID-19 infections sparked fears of more damage to an already-faltering domestic economic recovery. UK CORPORATE DIARY: Sage Group Plc
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