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 0.46%.

UNILEVER: Unilever ULVR.L said it was in talks with McCormick & Company MKC.N about selling its foods business.

CAB PAYMENTS: British cross-border payments processor CAB Payments CABP.L said on Friday that it has rejected the recent all-cash offer from financial services firm StoneX SNEX.O, saying the proposal undervalues the company and its future prospects.

J D WETHERSPOON: J D Wetherspoon JDW.L warned that profits may fall below market estimates , weighed down by higher energy and tax costs.

SMITHS GROUP: Smiths Group SMIN.L fell short of half-year organic revenue growth estimates, weighed by a weak performance in its Flex‑Tek division.

ANGLO AMERICAN: South32 S32.AX has paused operations at its Gemco mine, co-owned by Anglo American AAL.L as Cyclone Narelle lashes Australia's northeast, a spokesperson said.

STANDARD CHARTERED: Singapore's High Court ruled against a bid by Standard Chartered STAN.L and BSI Bank to be heard in applications seeking to wind up some foreign entities as part of efforts to recover assets linked to 1MDB scandal.

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.

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, temporarily shut its Amrun and Andoom bauxite mines in Northern Queensland due to a tropical cyclone.

PUBLIC FINANCES: Britain's public finances showed renewed signs of strain as data showed government borrowing overshot expectations in February.

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

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