(Adds futures, news items)
Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 5 points lower at 6,286 on
Monday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures FFIc1 almost flat
ahead of cash markets open.
* GSK: Britain's GSK GSK.L said it would invest 130 million pounds
($163.14 million) to buy a 10% stake in Germany's CureVac. * STHREE: British recruiting firm SThree Plc STEMS.L said its first-half
profit nearly halved, as coronavirus lockdowns slowed hiring
globally. * COVID-19 VACCINE: Britain has signed deals to secure 90 million doses of
two possible COVID-19 vaccines from the Pfizer Inc PFE.N and BioNTech
22UAy.F alliance and French group Valneva VLS.PA . * OIL: Oil prices fell on Monday, unnerved by the prospect that a recovery
in fuel demand could be derailed by a rise in the pace of coronavirus infections
around the world. * GOLD: Gold prices edged lower on Monday due to a stronger U.S. dollar, but
worries over surging coronavirus cases and its impact on the global economy kept
the safe-haven metal above the psychological level of $1,800 per ounce.
* The UK blue-chip index .FTSE ended up 0.6% on Friday, bolstered chiefly
by AstraZeneca AZN.L amid anticipation of a deal with Russia to manufacture a
COVID-19 vaccine being developed by the drugmaker and Oxford University.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times PRESS/FT
> Other business headlines PRESS/GB
($1 = 0.7969 pounds)