UK Stocks-Factors to watch on March 20

March 20 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening down on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.19%.

INTEREST RATES: The Bank of England looks set to keep interest rates on hold as it awaits the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's trade tariffs and the British government's imminent tax hike for employers.

PHARMACEUTICALS: The pharmaceutical industry blasted the UK government's levy that aims to curb the national health system's drugs bill.

PRUDENTIAL: Prudential PRU.L posted a rise in 2024 adjusted operating profit before tax, as the insurer benefited from strong performance across Asia and Africa.

HSBC: HSBC Holdings HSBA.L is in advanced talks to sell its German fund administration business to private-equity firm BlackFin Capital Partners, Bloomberg News reported.

REEVES: British finance minister Rachel Reeves is expected to announce next week that she has rebuilt a 9.9 billion pound($12.87 billion) fiscal buffer, Bloomberg reported.

BURGER KING: Burger King UK is initiating discussions with lenders for a major refinancing to fund its business plan, Sky News reported.

ARGENTA: Argenta Private Capital has raised more than 34 million pounds in third-party capital to support Convex Syndicate 1984.

COMMODITIES: Oil prices rose on Thursday, while gold rose to an all-time high and copper prices hit their highest in more than five months.

EX-DIVS: Hikma Pharmaceuticals HIK.L, Beazley BEZG.L, Pearson PSON.L and Chemring Group CHG.L will trade without entitlement to its latest dividend pay-out on Thursday.

The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed flat on Wednesday.

UK CORPORATE DIARY:

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($1 = 0.7691 pounds)