LONDON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening
10-12 points, or as much as 0.2 percent, lower on Friday, according to financial
bookmakers, following overnight weakness on Wall Street and in Asia.
The UK blue chip index closed up 9.75 points, or 0.2 percent, at 5,276.50 on
Thursday, it's highest close since Oct. 19, as British Airways (BAY.L) soared
with investors cheered as a merger with Iberia (IBLA.MC) looked imminent, while
gains were also powered by strength in banks.
No domestic data is due for release on Friday, so investors' attention will
be drawn across the Atlantic.
September U.S. international trade figures are due at 1330 GMT, as are
import/export prices for October. These will be followed by November's
University of Michigan consumer sentiment data.
* GLOBAL MARKETS-Currencies in focus as Obama tours Asia [ID:nSYD541453]
* Nikkei sheds 0.5 pct as exporters weigh; Sharp up [ID:nT81682]
* Wall St falls on energy shares, consumer worries [ID:nN12418963]
* FOREX-Dollar holds higher ground after bear-market bounce [ID:nT78915]
* TREASURIES-Prices climb after 30Y note sale, Wall St dip [ID:nN12431862]
* Oil below $77 on bearish stocks data, dollar rebound [ID:nSP61641]
* PRECIOUS-Gold steadies above $1,100 after NY dip [ID:nT80001]
* METALS-Shanghai copper down 1 pct on dollar rebound, stocks [ID:nSHA80040]
UK stocks to watch on Friday:
BRITISH AIRWAYS
BA and Spain's Iberia announced on Thursday a preliminary agreement for a $7
billion merger to create the world's third-largest airline by revenue.
[ID:nLC092017]
LLOYDS BANKING GROUP (LLOY.L)
The bank has more than 700 million pounds ($1.2 billion) of debts and
investments tied up in Kenmore Property, the Times newspaper reported on Friday.
[ID:nLD719208]
NATIONAL EXPRESS (NEX.L)
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis will take control of the National Express
East Coast franchise at one minute to midnight today in order to stop the
company retaining the right to extend its East Anglia franchise for three years
from April 2011, reported The Daily Telegraph.
BALFOUR BEATTY (BALF.L)
Balfour Beatty construction is to acquire Spawmaxwell Co.
REXAM (REX.L)
The drinks can maker issues a trading update.
TULLETT PREBON (TLPR.L)
The interdealer broker issues a trading update.
ELECTROCOMPONENTS (ECM.L)
The electrical parts supplier posts first-half results.
CHAUCER HOLDINGS (CHU.L)
The Lloyd's listed insurer issues a trading update.
BRITISH ASSETS TRUST (BSET.L)
The firm posts full-year results.
INDEPENDENT NEWS & MEDIA (INME.L)
The newspaper publisher holds an extraordinary general meeting.
HORNBY (HRN.L)
The toy maker posts first-half results.
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times [PRESS/FT]
> Other business headlines [PRESS/GB]
(Reporting by Tricia Wright)
