UK Stocks-Factors to watch on August 13

Aug 13 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Wednesday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.2%.

* PERSIMMON: British homebuilder Persimmon PSN.L said it expects to deliver around 12,000 homes in 2026, with operating margins progressing at a pace similar to 2025.

* BEAZLEY: British insurer Beazley BEZG.L lowered its annual premium growth forecast, partly hurt by subdued demand in its cyber and property risk insurance business.

* EVOKE: British bookmaker Evoke EVOK.L reported a profit for the first half on an adjusted, pretax basis, compared to a loss in the prior year, helped by tight cost controls and strong revenue growth in its international businesses.

* THAMES WATER: Hong Kong's CK Infrastructure Holdings (CKI)1038.HK has emerged as a leading contender to take over Thames Water and could assume control within weeks if Britain's largest water utility is placed into special ­administration, The Times reported on Tuesday.

* PHP: Primary Health Properties PHP.L said on Tuesday it had secured acceptances for 62.9% of Assura AGRP.L shares in its takeover bid for the British healthcare real estate investor, a rare show of investor support in the UK markets amid a wave of private equity buyouts in the recent past.

* SHELL: Venture Global VG.N has won a legal battle against Shell SHEL.L over its failure to deliver liquefied natural gas under long-term contracts starting in 2023, the U.S. LNG major said on Tuesday.

* COMMODITIES: Oil prices were steady, Shanghai copper prices ticked up, and gold edged higher on Wednesday.

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

TODAY'S UK PAPERS
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