Nov 5 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 2 points lower at 5,581 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.
* ASTRAZENECA: Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said the country's health regulator had given the go-ahead for clinical trials of AstraZeneca PLC's AZN.L COVID-19 vaccine.
SAINSBURY: British supermarket group Sainsbury SBRY.L will announce plans to cut 3,000 jobs, alongside its first-half results on Thursday, The Times reported.
BARCLAYS: A former Barclays BARC.L trader, who fled to his native France before being convicted in London of helping rig Euribor interest rates, has won a court battle against extradition to Britain to serve an eight-year jail sentence, his lawyer said.
GOLD: Gold firmed as investors were cautiously optimistic Democrat Joe Biden would edge past President Donald Trump in a tight race to the White House, boosting the likelihood of more economic stimulus.
OIL: Oil dropped as Democrat Joe Biden edged closer to the White House but the Republicans look likely to retain Senate control, decreasing the chances of any huge COVID-19 relief package.
The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 1.7% higher on Wednesday as a weaker pound boosted shares of exporters, although investors remained cautious on prospects of a contested outcome to the U.S. presidential elections.
UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Tate & Lyle Plc
HY results RDI Reit Plc
FY trading statement Biffa Plc
HY earnings Wincanton Plc
HY earnings Derwent London Plc
Q3 business update Kin and Carta Plc
FY earnings AVEVA Group Plc
HY earnings AstraZeneca Plc
Q3 earnings RSA Insurance Group Plc
Q3 trading statement J Sainsbury (OTC:JSAIY) Plc
HY earnings Lancashire Holdings Ltd
Q3 trading statement Auto Trader Group Plc
AUTOA.L HY earnings Trainline Plc
HY earnings Inchcape Plc
Q3 trading statement Hikma Pharmaceuticals Plc
Trading statement RDI Reit Plc
FY earnings