UK Stocks-Factors to watch on March 14

March 14 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE is seen opening 20 points lower at 7,139 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.

* SPORTS DIRECT: Sports Direct SPD.L said on Wednesday it offered Debenhams DEB.L an interest-free loan in return for a further 5 percent stake, just as the department store chain was on the brink of securing funds to fend off a bid from Sports Direct's founder, Mike Ashley, to take charge of the company. DRAX: Britain's Drax DRX.L has been given government approval to build a 90 million pound ($118 million) gas plant in the east of England, the company said on Tuesday. GOLD: Gold fell on Thursday as the dollar regained some ground and uncertainty over Brexit eased, but the metal held close to a two-week high hit in the previous session as tepid U.S. inflation data cemented expectations that the Federal Reserve would hold rates. OIL: Oil prices nudged higher on Thursday to sit just off a four-month high reached in the previous session as investors focused on global production cuts and supply disruptions in Venezuela. EX-DIVS: Anglo American (LON: AAL ) AAL , CRH CRH.L ,Gvc Holdings GVC.L and Land Secs. LAND.L will trade without entitlement to their latest dividend pay-out on Thursday, trimming 3.6 points off the FTSE 100 according to Reuters calculations The UK blue chip index closed 0.11 percent up at 71559.19 on Wednesday with gains in oil majors offset by a drop in tobacco stocks and as investors remained cautious before of a second pivotal Brexit vote of the week. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/