UK Stocks-Factors to watch on April 2

April 2 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.81%.

THAMES WATER: Britain's largest water supplier is poised to reach an agreement with water regulator Ofwat that will allow it to avoid new fines until 2030, the Financial Times reported.

BUSINESS CONFIDENCE: British business confidence has fallen as the Iran war exacerbates worries among employers about costs, according to a survey of accountants that chimed with similar concerns from other groups since the start of the U.S.-Israeli attacks.

OIL: Oil prices climbed more than $5 on Thursday, as President Donald Trump said the United States would keep up attacks on Iran without committing to a specific timeline to end the war.

GOLD: Gold prices reversed course to slip more than 1% on Thursday, snapping a four-day winning streak.

METALS: Copper prices fell for the first time in five sessions on Thursday, weighed down by renewed concerns over economic growth after U.S. President Donald Trump failed to provide a clear outline on ending the Iran war.

EX-DIVS: Smiths Group SMIN.L and IMI IMI.L will trade without entitlement to their latest dividend pay-out.

FTSE: London's main indexes closed higher on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump signalled that the Iran war could end soon.

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