UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Jan. 24

Jan 24 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening up on Friday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.06%

ANGLO AMERICAN: Top diamond producer Botswana's new President Duma Boko said on Thursday that he hoped to clinch a long-delayed sales pact with industry giant De Beers as early as Friday but underlined the need to diversify the Southern African nation's economy.

BARCLAYS: British lender Barclays BARC.L is proposing a revamp of pay packages earned by its CEO and finance director, with higher bonuses on offer for outperformance in exchange for lower fixed pay, according to a Sky News report on Thursday.

RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto RIO.AX, RIO.L warned that its first-quarter shipments could be affected by disruptions to its rail operations following record rainfall along Western Australia's Pilbara coastline due to tropical cyclone Sean.

THAMES WATER: The British government has approached consultancies regarding taking the role of special administrators for Thames Water, in a sign that ministers are bracing themselves for imminent renationalisation, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

PETROFAC: Oilfield services provider Petrofac PFC.L said on Thursday over 70% of its bondholders backed the restructuring plan deal it entered into last year to raise funds through equity financing.

OIL: Oil markets sank on Friday.

GOLD: Gold prices soared to near three-month highs.

METALS: Most base metals rose.

FTSE 100: The UK's FTSE 100 rose on Thursday, ending just short of a fresh record high as investors sought clarity on U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies.

UK CORPORATE DIARY:

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TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times PRESS/FT
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