UK Stocks-Factors to watch on July 16

July 16 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 20 points lower at 6,273 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.

* OIL COMPANIES: A group of the world's top oil companies including Saudi Aramco (SE: 2222 ), China's CNPC and Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM ) XOM.N have for the first time set targets to cut their combined greenhouse gas emission. CAR INSURANCE: The cost of a comprehensive motor insurance policy in Britain fell 5% in the second quarter. BREXIT TRADE: Britain publishes plans to keep trade flowing freely between its constituent nations when regulatory powers are reclaimed from the European Union. CARNIVAL: Carnival (NYSE: CCL ) Corp CCL.L CCL.N is planning to raise about $1.26 billion in a bond offering, the beleaguered cruise operator said on Wednesday. FISCAL POLICY: Britain may need to run tighter fiscal policy than it has in the past during good economic times due to an apparent increase in the frequency of 'once in a generation' economic shocks, finance minister Rishi Sunak said. OIL: Oil prices slid after OPEC and allies such as Russia agreed to ease record supply curbs from August. GOLD: Gold prices held steady near a nine-year peak, as concerns over rising coronavirus cases and simmering U.S.-China tensions offset some silver linings from Chinese economic data. The UK blue-chip index .FTSE ended up 1.8% on Wednesday, as signs of progress in developing a COVID-19 vaccine bolstered hopes of a swift post-pandemic economic rebound. UK CORPORATE DIARY: