UK Stocks-Factors to watch on July 1

July 1 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening flat on Tuesday, with futures FFIc1 little changed.

SAINSBURY: Sainsbury's SBRY.L stuck to its annual profit forecast on Tuesday, as it reported a 4.7% rise in underlying sales in its first quarter.

OFGEM: Ofgem on Tuesday said it has given a provisional approval for an initial 24 billion pounds ($32.98 billion) investment programme to boost energy security and operate and maintain critical gas networks and electricity grid in Britain.

BLACKSTONE: Blackstone BX.N said it was considering its options regarding its bid for UK's Warehouse REIT WHRW.L after its takeover target agreed to a 485.2 million pound ($666.8 million) deal with Tritax Big Box REIT BBOXT.L last week.

MPAC GROUP: Mpac Group MPAC.L said on Tuesday it had restructured its U.S. operations, after a slowdown in orders due to tariffs resulted in a significant hit to its annual revenues.

SHELL: Canada's first-ever LNG export cargo has been shipped from the country's Pacific Coast en route to Asia, a spokesperson for the Shell-led LNG Canada said on Monday.

OIL: Oil prices edged down, weighed by expectations of an OPEC+ output hike in August and concerns of an economic slowdown driven by prospects of higher U.S. tariffs.

GOLD: Gold prices rose, supported by a weaker dollar and heightened uncertainty over U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies ahead of the July 9 deadline, driving investors toward safe-haven assets.

METALS: Coppers prices on the London Metal Exchange and the Shanghai Futures Exchange inched up on the back of a weaker U.S. dollar, while uncertainty persisted on U.S. trade with major partners.

For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/

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