UK Stocks-Factors to watch on September 19

Sept 19 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Friday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.1%.

* IG GROUP: British online trading platform IG Group IGG.L said on Friday it had acquired Australian cryptocurrency exchange Independent Reserve for A$178 million ($117.4 million), expanding its digital offerings and presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

* UK-BASED INIGO: Radian Group RDN.N said on Thursday it would buy UK-based Inigo for $1.7 billion as the U.S. mortgage insurer seeks to transform into a global multi-line specialty insurer, sending its shares up nearly 7%.

* SPIRE HEALTHCARE: British private hospital group Spire Healthcare SPI.L said on Thursday it had initiated discussions with several parties to explore strategic options, including a potential sale of the company.

* CONSUMERS: Britons became more gloomy this month and the prospect of tax increases in finance minister Rachel Reeves' budget in November threatens to damage confidence levels further, a survey showed on Friday.

* RETAIL: British retail sales rose by a stronger-than-expected 0.5% in August, helped by sunny weather, but sales growth in July was revised slightly down, official figures showed on Friday.

* BORROWING: Britain's borrowing has surged past the official forecasts that underpin the government's tax and spending plans, compounding the challenge facing finance minister Rachel Reeves in her November budget.

* COMMODITIES: Oil prices were little changed on Friday, gold prices were flat and copper futures rebounded from a one-week low hit in the previous session.

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

TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times PRESS/FT
> Other business headlines PRESS/GB