Aug 6 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE index is seen opening 49 points lower at 6,056 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures (FFIc1) down 0.5% ahead of cash markets open.
GLENCORE: Glencore (GLEN.L) said it was scrapping its dividend to focus on lowering debt as the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to book a $3.2 billion impairment charge.
ITV : ITV (ITV.L), Britain's biggest free-to-air commercial broadcaster, reported a 50% drop in adjusted earnings for the first half.
SAVILLS: Real estate agency Savills Plc (SVS.L) reported a 69% drop in first-half pretax profit.
SERCO: British outsourcer Serco (SRP.L) reported a 53% jump in first-half profit.
AVIVA: British life, motor and home insurer Aviva (AV.L) said it would reduce its focus on its Asia and Europe businesses as it posted a 12% drop in first-half operating profit.
IMPERIAL BRANDS: Cigarette maker Imperial Brands said Chief Finanical Officer Oliver Tant has decided to retire.
PHOENIX GROUP: Insurer Phoenix Group PHNX.L posted an 11% rise in half-year earnings and raised its 2020 cash generation target.
HAMMERSON: British shopping centre operator Hammerson (HMSO.L) said it planned to raise 825 million pounds ($1.08 billion) through a rights issue and disposal of its 50% stake in joint venture VIA Outlets to its partner APG.
MEGGITT: British engineer Meggitt (MGGT.L) said its financial position and liquidity remain strong in a statement issued in response to press speculation.
BOE: Britain's banks hold enough capital to keep on lending and absorb the losses that are likely to arise due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bank of England said.
GSK: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved GlaxoSmithKline's experimental treatment for a common form of blood cancer.
HOMEBUILDING: Britain will set out proposals to speed up homebuilding by cutting red tape and opening up the sector to smaller firms, in a bid to address a long-term housing shortage.
OIL: Oil prices were mostly flat, as a boost from lower-than-expected U.S. crude stocks that lifted the market to five-month highs in the previous session gave way to fuel demand concerns amid rising coronavirus infections.
GOLD: Gold steadied after hitting a record high in the previous session as dismal U.S. jobs data hammered the dollar.
EX-DIVS: BAE Systems, Fresnillo, Rio Tinto and Unilever will trade without entitlement to its latest dividend pay-out on Thursday, trimming 8.4 points off the FTSE 100 according to Reuters calculations.
The UK blue-chip index (.FTSE) gained 1.1% on Wednesday with a five-month high for crude prices lifting oil majors BP and Royal Dutch Shell.
UK CORPORATE DIARY:
EVRAZ plc (LON:EVRE) HY Results
Spirent Communications plc (LON:SPT) HY Results
Aggreko PLC (AGGK.L) HY Results
Hammerson PLC (LON:HMSO) HY Results
Serco Group PLC (SRP.L) HY Results
Synthomer PLC (LON:SYNTS) HY Results
Mondi PLC (LON:MNDI) HY Results
Genel Energy PLC (GENL.L) HY Results
Aviva PLC (LON:AV) HY Results
ITV PLC (LON:ITV) HY Results
ConvaTec Group PLC (LON:CTEC) HY Results
Amryt Pharma Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:AMYT) Q2 Results
Phoenix Group Holdings PLC (LON:PHNX) HY Results
Savills (LON:SVS) HY Results
Glencore (GLEN.L) HY Results