UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Dec. 17

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 futures index FFIc1 was 0.24% higher on Thursday.

* G4S (CSE: G4S ): Security firm GardaWorld said on Wednesday its cash offer for rival G4S GFS.L will remain open for acceptance until Jan. 6, even as the British company last week agreed to be acquired by U.S. firm Allied Universal. BOOHOO: Mahmud Kamani, the co-founder and executive chairman of British online fashion retailer Boohoo BOOH.L , on Wednesday told lawmakers he would fix the group's supply chain failings. RETAIL: Britain's retailers and food manufacturers have called on lawmakers to urgently investigate ongoing disruption at UK ports, warning that delays were hurting their plans to build stocks ahead of Christmas and the Dec. 31 end of the Brexit transition period. BANK OF ENGLAND: The Bank of England is expected to refrain from yet more stimulus as it waits to see if a possible no-deal Brexit in two weeks' time deepens the problems already facing Britain's coronavirus-damaged economy. GOLD: Gold held firm near a one-week high as progress on a U.S. fiscal stimulus deal weighed on the dollar, while a pledge by the Federal Reserve to keep rates low until an economic recovery is secure lent further support. OIL: Oil hit a nine-month high after government data showed a fall in U.S. crude stockpiles last week, while progress towards a U.S. fiscal stimulus deal and strong Asian demand also buoyed prices. The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.9% higher on Wednesday on signs of progress in securing a new Brexit trade deal and optimism over a global recovery aided by the rollout of coronavirus vaccines. UK CORPORATE DIARY: