April 25 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 6 points higher at 7,477 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.
* SHELL: The restart of the gasoline-producing unit at Royal Dutch Shell Plc's RDSa.L 218,200 barrel-per-day (bpd) Norco, Louisiana, refinery has been delayed between one and two weeks, said sources familiar with plant operations on Wednesday. SAINSBURY'S: Sainsbury's SBRY.L and Asda, the British arm of U.S. retailer Walmart (NYSE:WMT) WMT.N , are "very unlikely" to appeal against the verdict of Britain's regulator on their proposed merger, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. OIL: Oil prices were torn on Thursday, supported by tightening sanctions against Iran announced this week and pressured by a surge in U.S. supply and concerns of an economic slowdown. GOLD: Gold prices edged up on Thursday as weak data from Germany and a dip in equities raised flags about the pace of global economic growth, while a firm dollar curbed further gains for the metal. EX-DIVS: Antofagasta ANTO.L , Fresnillo FRES.L , Glencore GLEN.L , Informa INF.L , Legal & General LGEN.L and Spirax-Sarco SPX.L will trade without entitlement to their latest dividend pay-out on Thursday, taking 7.66 points off the FTSE 100, according to Reuters calculations The UK blue chip index lost 0.7 percent on Wednesday, its worst day in a month, as oil majors weakened amid signs that global markets remain adequately supplied. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/
* UK CORPORATE DIARY: Meggitt
Trading Statement Release RDI Reit
Half Year Earnings Release Relx
Trading Statement Release Barclays
Q1 Earnings Release Taylor Wimpey
Trading Statement Release Senior
Trading Statement Release Kaz Minerals
Q1 Interim Management Statement Release Acacia Mining
Q1 Earnings Release Tullow Oil
Trading Statement Release Synthomer
Q1 Trading Statement Release
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times
PRESS/FT
> Other business headlines
PRESS/GB