UK Stocks-Factors to watch on April 24

April 24 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening flat on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.07%.

REEVES: Britain is not in a rush to secure a trade deal with the U.S., finance minister Rachel Reeves said.

BANK OF ENGLAND: The Bank of England is taking very seriously the risk to economic growth from the upheaval in global trade, Governor Andrew Bailey said.

TRADE: Rachel Reeves announced steps to prevent the dumping of cheap goods in the UK which could surge due to U.S. tariffs.

OIL: Oil prices ticked up amid a potential OPEC+ output increase while gold prices jumped more than 1% and iron ore futures extended gains amid optimism over the U.S.-China trade deal.

GOLD: Gold prices jumped more than 1% on Thursday on bargain buying, a day after the bullion hit a one-week low amid optimism over the U.S.-China trade deal.

METALS: Iron ore futures extended gainsfor a fourth consecutive session on optimism over U.S.-China trade talks.

EX-DIVS: Haleon HLN.L, Legal&General LGEN.L,Rightmove RMV.L , Spirax SPX.L,Hiscox HSX.L,Drax DRX.L,Morgan SindallMGNS.L,Hammerson HMSO.L,Bodycote BOY.L,ME Group MEGPM.L,Kier Group KIE.L,PPHE Hotel Group PPH.L and Ocean Wilsons Holdings OCN.L will trade without entitlement to its latest dividend pay-out on Thursday.

The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed up 0.9% on Wednesday, led by gains in banks and metal mining companies.

UK CORPORATE DIARY:

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