April 16 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening steady on Friday, with futures FFIc1 marginally down 0.01%.
* GLOBALWORTH: A top executive at German real estate company Aroundtown AT1.DE said its proposed 1.57 billion euro takeover bid, made with partner CPI Property O5G.DE , for Globalworth Real Estate GWI.L was attractive for shareholders but he did not rule out lifting the offer. FINANCE: Britain's financial firms and regulators should step up the use of technology to cut the cost of compliance and make the City of London more globally competitive, a report said. OIL: Oil prices dipped in early trade, but were on course for a weekly gain of more than 6% with an improved oil demand outlook and strong economic recoveries in China and the United States offsetting concerns about spikes in COVID-19 infections. GOLD: Gold prices were steady as robust U.S. economic data nullified support from lower Treasury yields, although the metal looked set to post a second straight weekly gain on inflationary concerns. London's FTSE 100 ended higher on Thursday on the back of gains in healthcare heavyweight GlaxoSmithKline (LON:GSK) and mining stocks, while hopes of a faster economic recovery lifted the mid-cap index to record highs. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
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