Feb 26 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 45 points lower at 7,139, on Tuesday, according to financial bookmakers.
* LAURA ASHLEY: Investment firm Flacks Group said on Monday it was in the preliminary stages of evaluating a possible deal to buy Laura Ashley Holdings Plc ALY.L , valuing the British fashion retailer at 20 million pounds ($26.16 million). ROLLS ROYCE: Britain's government on Monday said it had awarded Rolls Royce RR.L a 235 million-pound ($307 million) contract to maintain nuclear submarines. Gold: Palladium hit a record high on Tuesday, surging above $1,550 as a threatened strike by South African mineworkers added to supply risk concerns in an already tight market, while gold prices edged up on a subdued dollar. OIL: Oil prices slipped on Tuesday, extending losses of more than 3 percent during the previous session, after U.S. President Donald Trump called on OPEC to ease its efforts to boost the market. The UK blue chip index closed 0.07 percent up at 7183.74 on Monday, as banks got a boost from comments about a possible Brexit delay, while housebuilders were hit by reports the government was worried about Persimmon 's handling of a state house-funding scheme. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/
* UK CORPORATE DIARY: Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group
Full year result Derwent London
Full year result Devro
Full year result Fresnillo
FRES.L Full year result Croda
CRDA.L Full year result Persimmon
Full year result Standard Chartered Plc
STAN.L Full year result Surface Transforms Plc
SCEU.L Half year result Meggitt Plc
MGGT.L Full year result Babcock International Group Plc BAB.L
Trading Statement James Fisher and Sons Plc
Full year result Drax Group Plc
Full year result Augean Plc
Full year result Oriole Resources Plc
Full year result
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times
PRESS/FT
> Other business headlines
PRESS/GB Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for:
* 3000 Xtra