March 13 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening up 66 points on Friday, according to financial bookmakers.
* BORIS JOHNSON ON VIRUS: Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned on Thursday that many more families would see their loved ones die from coronavirus, as the government's chief scientific adviser said Britain likely has as many as 10,000 people infected. SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia has stepped up efforts to squeeze Russia's Urals oil grade out of its main markets by offering its own cheap barrels instead after their long-standing deal to support global oil prices fell apart, seven oil sources said. BT: Britain's biggest telecoms group BT BT.L said its CEO Philip Jansen tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, a latest high-profile figure to be affected by the spread of coronavirus. OIL: Oil fell a third day as the horror show for crude investors continued on Friday amid panic about evaporating demand from the coronavirus pandemic, with Brent set for its biggest weekly loss since 1991 and U.S. crude heading for its worst week since 2008. GOLD: Gold prices extended losses on Friday and were set for their steepest weekly decline in nearly seven years as traders sold bullion to finance margin calls in other assets hammered by panic over the coronavirus. London's FTSE 100 index .FTSE crashed 10.9% on Thursday's close to levels not seen since the 2012 on Thursday after the European Central Bank's stimulus package underwhelmed markets and added to alarm caused by a U.S. curb on European travellers. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
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