UK Stocks-Factors to watch on March 7

March 7 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE is seen opening 34 points lower at 7,162 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.

* IAG: British Airways owner IAG ICAG.L is unlikely to renew its interest in Norwegian Air NWC.OL after ruling out a new bid for the Scandinavian carrier earlier in the year, but "never say never", IAG Chief Executive Willie Walsh said on Wednesday. GOLD: Gold prices steadied on Thursday as lacklustre appetite for riskier assets offered some support to the safe-haven metal, while firm dollar limited gains ahead of European Central Bank's (ECB) policy meeting due later in the day. OIL: Oil edged up on Thursday amid ongoing OPEC-led supply cuts and U.S. sanctions against exporters Venezuela and Iran, although prices were prevented from rising further by record U.S. crude output and rising commercial fuel inventories. EX-DIVS: BHP Group BHPB.L , Evraz Group EVRE.L , Persimmon PSN.L , Rio Tinto RIO.L ,RSA Insurance Group RSA.L and Standard Chartered STAN.L will trade without entitlement to their latest dividend pay-out on Thursday, trimming 21.7 points off the FTSE 100, according to Reuters calculations The UK blue chip index closed 0.17 percent up at 7196.00 on Wednesday as tobacco stocks gained on U.S. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb's departure and DS Smith rose after selling its plastics division, while Legal & General slipped after results. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/