UK Stocks-Factors to watch on July 28

July 28 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening flat, according to financial bookmakers.

* The UK blue chip index closed 0.4 percent higher on Wednesday at 6,750.43 points, climbing to its highest closing level in nearly a year, with housebuilders among the top performers, while mid-cap stocks touched their best level since last month's shock "Brexit" vote. SABMILLER/AB INBEV: SABMiller SAB.L has asked employees to pause the process of integrating its operations with those of Anheuser-Busch InBev ABI.BR as the brewer's board weighs its sweetened takeover offer, according to sources familiar with the matter. BHP BILLITON: BHP Billiton BHP.AX BLT.L will book a charge of up to $1.3 billion to cover the costs of a dam disaster last November at the Samarco iron ore mine in Brazil, putting it on course to report its worst ever annual loss. RANDGOLD: Randgold Resources ' RRS.L Loulo-Gounkoto gold mining complex in Mali is currently on track to beat its 2016 production guidance, CEO Mark Bristow told reporters late on Wednesday. STANDARD CHARTERED: Standard Chartered STAN.L has named former deputy governor of the Bank of Spain Jose Vinals as its new chairman, ending a 16-month search for a new leader to oversee a sweeping turnaround plan being undertaken by its new CEO. UK CAR OUTPUT: British car production rose 10 percent year-on-year in June, according to figures released on Thursday, but manufacturers said growth was in jeopardy if Britain failed to secure unfettered access to the European single market. BREXIT: Shockwaves from Britain's vote to leave the European Union are reverberating through the economy with surveys published on Thursday showing a sharp dive in consumer confidence and a slowdown in the construction sector. OIL: Oil prices recovered slightly from April lows in early trading on Thursday, but the outlook for the industry remained weak as crude producers and fuel refiners continue to pump out more than the market can consume. EX-DIVS: SSE Plc SSE.L will trade without entitlement to their latest dividend pay-out on Thursday, trimming 2.42 points off the FTSE 100, according to Reuters calculations. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets