UK Stocks - Factors to watch on May 23

May 23 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Friday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.17%.

AJ BELL: AJ Bell AJBA.L posted a 12% year-over-year rise in half-yearly profit before tax to 68.8 million pounds ($92.58 million), as the British investment platform benefitted from increased client activity.

GAMES WORKSHOP: British miniature wargames maker Games Workshop GAW.L on Friday said it expects core operating profit for the year ending June 2025 to be 18.3% higher than a year earlier, as it benefits from robust demand for its popular "Warhammer 40K" series.

INTERNATIONAL PAPER: International Paper IP.N said it will close five packaging sites in Britain, cutting around 300 jobs, citing tough industry conditions.

OFGEM: Millions of British households will see lower energy bills from July after regulator Ofgem said its domestic price cap would fall 7% to reflect lower wholesale energy prices.

RETAIL SALES: Sunny weather boosted British retail sales in April and households grew cheerier this month, according to figures published on Friday that suggested consumers might be a bright spot in an otherwise drab outlook for the economy.

RIO TINTO: Chile's state-run mining body ENAMI has tapped Rio Tinto RIO.L for a 51% share of the Altoandinos lithium project, it said on Thursday, giving the global miner its second major venture in Chile for extraction of the key battery metal.

COMMODITIES: Oil prices slipped on Friday, gold prices were poised for their best weekly gain in more than a month, and copper prices in London edged higher.

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