July 4 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Friday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.19%.
* ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca AZN.L is in talks with Summit Therapeutics SMMT.O to license an experimental lung-cancer drug under a deal worth as much as $15 billion, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.
* PENSION INSURANCE CORPORATION: Specialised life insurance group Athora has agreed to buy UK insurer Pension Insurance Corporation, for about 5.7 billion pounds ($7.78 billion), both companies said on Thursday.
* FLIGHT DISRUPTION: A walkout by French air traffic controllers to protest against staff shortages and ageing equipment forced airlines to cancel hundreds of flights on Thursday, just as the summer season gets under way.
* WIZZ AIR: European low-cost carrier Wizz Air WIZZ.L confirmed on Thursday that it was the latest airline to be investigated by Spain's Ministry of Consumer Affairs over practices such as charging for larger cabin bags.
* OIL: Oil prices fell slightly on Thursday as investors worried that U.S. tariffs could slow energy demand ahead of an expected supply boost by major crude producers.
* GOLD: Gold edged up on Friday, poised for a weekly gain as U.S. President Donald Trump's tax-cut and spending bill passed in Congress, raising fiscal concerns.
* COPPER: Copper prices on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were set for a second straight weekly gain on Friday, despite minor fluctuations.
* FTSE: The UK blue-chip index .FTSE was up 0.6% on Thursday as political tensions appeared to ease after Finance Minister Rachel Reeves said she's "totally" up for the job, drawing support from Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/
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(Reporting by Ankita Bora in Bengaluru)
((Ankita.Bora@thomsonreuters.com))