Jan 30 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Friday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.3%.
* ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca AZN.L will license experimental drugs for obesity and weight-related conditions from CSPC Pharmaceutical Group 1093.HK and collaborate on additional projects, paying $1.2 billion upfront and up to $17.3 billion more if development and sales milestones are met, the Chinese drugmaker said.
* RIO TINTO: Aluminium Corporation of China (Chinalco) 601600.SS and Rio Tinto RIO.AX, RIO.L agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Companhia Brasileira de Aluminio CBAV3.SA for 4.69 billion reais, the firms said.
* BUSINESS CONFIDENCE: British business confidence weakened this month after executives' view of the global economic outlook declined to its darkest in a year, a survey by Lloyds showed.
* OIL: Oil prices slipped more than 1% on Friday from multi-month highs, though they are set for their most substantial gains in years, as the risk premium surged due to a potential U.S. attack on Iran that could disrupt supplies.
* METALS: Copper eased, erasing gains it made in the speculative rush in the previous session as investors booked profits, but the metal still headed for a monthly gain.
* GOLD: Gold slid more than 4% on rumours the Federal Reserve could get a more hawkish chair, but was still on track for its strongest monthly gain since 1980 as investors flocked to the safe haven amid lingering geopolitical and economic strains.
* FTSE: London's blue-chip index ended higher Thursday, led by financial and energy stocks, as investors parsed a mixed bag of corporate results.
* CORPORATE DIARY:
Airtel Africa | AAF.L | Q3 results |
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/
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(Compiled by Neeshita Beura in Bengaluru)
((Neeshita.Beura@thomsonreuters.com))