UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Sept. 26

Sept 26 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening down 6 points to 7,284 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.

* SAINSBURY: The chief executive of Britain's Sainsbury's SBRY.L has reaffirmed his commitment to leading the supermarket group, saying a major investor event on Wednesday was not a beauty contest for his potential replacement. PRUDENTIAL: Professional loan provider PRU.L will spin off its UK and European insurance and asset management business M&G in October, Britain's largest insurer said in a prospectus published on Wednesday, dividing the insurance giant into two large-cap stocks. BAE SYSTEMS: British military equipment manufacturer, BAES.L has been awarded a $2.7 billion U.S. defense contract for production of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. OIL: Oil prices held nearly flat after U.S. President Donald Trump said a resolution to the China-U.S. trade rift would come sooner-than-expected, helping to stave off pressure from rising oil supplies and worries about global growth. GOLD: Gold prices inched up as a sharp drop in the previous session attracted some bargain hunters, but a stronger dollar as U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at a Sino-U.S. trade deal kept the gains in check. EX-DIVS: Hargreaves HRGV.L , Intertek ITRK.L , Morrison MRW.L and Smurfit Kappa SKG.L will trade without entitlement to its latest dividend pay-out on Thursday, trimming 1.1 points off the FTSE 100, according to Reuters calculations. The UK blue chip index closed flat on Wednesday after recovering from an initial slide, with the help of a steep drop in sterling, as UK stocks were weighed down by uncertainty over Brexit as parliament reconvened after a court ruling against the prime minister. UK CORPORATE DIARY: