Dec 27 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 futures .FFIC1 were up 0.44% on
Friday ahead of the cash markets open.
* PHS GROUP: South Africa's Bidvest BVTJ.J said on Tuesday it would
acquire British-based hygiene service provider PHS Group PHSGR.UL for around
9.1 billion rand ($641.16 million) to expand its presence beyond its home
market. * TESCO: Allegations that a Chinese printing firm which supplies British
supermarket giant Tesco TSCO.L uses the forced labour of foreign prisoners are
"completely fabricated", Chinese state television on Tuesday cited the factory's
manager as saying. * GOLD: Gold prices rose slightly to their highest in nearly two months on
Friday, heading for their best week in more than four months, as the dollar
eased and investors hedged against risks ahead of the year-end. * OIL: Oil prices rose on Friday, hitting three-month highs after data
showed record online spending by U.S. consumers, stoking faith in the world's
no. 1 economy even before the hoped-for end to the trade war between Washington
and Beijing. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed up 0.1% on Tuesday, boosted by oil
major Shell RDSa.L and a 2% rise in domestic bank Lloyds LLOY.L . For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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