UK Stocks-Factors to watch on March 20

March 20 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Friday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.1%.

UNILEVER: Unilever ULVR.L is in talks to separate its food business and combine it with spice maker McCormick MKC.N in an all-stock deal that could come within weeks, the Wall Street Journal reported.

BP: Workers at BP's BP.L Whiting, Indiana, refinery began picketing after the British oil major barred more than 800 union members from entering the facility, following months of stalled contract negotiations.

Bridgepoint: Bridgepoint is drawing up proposals for an offer worth more than 1 billion pounds ($1.34 billion) for Spire Healthcare SPI.L, Sky News reported.

RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto RIO.AX, RIO.L, the world's largest iron ore producer, temporarily shut its Amrun and Andoom bauxite mines in Northern Queensland as tropical cyclone Narelle battered northeast Australia.

COMMODITIES: Oil prices fell, while gold prices rose. Meanwhile, copper is set to post its steepest weekly loss in months.

FTSE: London's main indexes closed at multi-month lows on Thursday after the Bank of England's unanimous decision to leave rates unchanged.

UK CORPORATE DIARY:

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