UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on July 24

(Adds futures, news items)
July 24 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 57
points lower at 6,155 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures
FFIc1 down 1.2% ahead of cash markets open.
* ASTRAZENECA: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved AstraZeneca's
AZN.L drug to treat patients with a form of lung disease. * CENTRICA: British Gas owner Centrica Plc CNA.L posted lower first-half
earnings partly due to the coronavirus crisis and said it would sell its North
American business, Direct Energy, to NRG Energy for $3.63 billion in
cash. * FERGUSON: Sales at plumbing supplier Ferguson's FERG.L main U.S.
operations fell 9% year-on-year in April, before recovering to fall by just 0.6%
for the May to July period. * VODAFONE: Vodafone VOD.L , the world's second biggest mobile operator,
said it would list its towers unit, Vantage Towers, in Frankfurt in early
2021. * PEARSON: British education company Pearson PSON.L swung to a first-half
loss due to the impact of COVID-19, although it said it was on track to deliver
adjusted operating profit broadly consistent with expectations as markets
recovered. * IAG: British Airways owner International Airlines Group ICAG.L said it
had signed a multi-year renewal agreement with American Express AXP.N ,
extending its worldwide commercial partnership with the payments
company. * NAKED WINES: Online wine seller Naked Wines WINEW.L said its sales
surged 67% in June compared with last year as orders continued to rise even
after the easing of Britain's coronavirus-induced lockdown. * RETAIL: British retail sales grew more strongly than expected in June and
returned almost to their pre-lockdown level as non-essential stores in England
reopened to the public in the middle of the month. * OIL: Oil prices rose on the back of a weaker U.S. dollar, although demand
concerns stemming from rising coronavirus cases and escalating U.S.-China
tensions kept a cap on prices. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE ended up 0.1% on Thursday, as barely
staying positive as optimism over corporate earnings was offset by a
discouraging U.S. jobs report and rising COVID-19 cases. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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