Aug 21 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.05%.
* BP: BP's BP.L 440,000-bpd refinery in Whiting, Indiana, was in the process of restarting after flooding disrupted its operations earlier this week, industry monitor IIR said on Wednesday, adding the units would take several days to ramp up.
* FLUTTER ENTERTAINMENT: Sports betting firm FanDuel, which is owned by Flutter Entertainment FLTRF.L, has tied up with derivatives exchange CME Group CME.O to set foot into the rapidly growing event contracts market, the companies announced on Wednesday.
* COMMODITIES: Oil prices gained slightly on Thursday, gold was little changed, and aluminium climbed outperforming its peers, as lower inventories and signs of improving demand in top consumer China boosted prices.
* EX-DIVS: InterContinental Hotels Group IHG.L, Schroders SDR.L, Entain ENT.L, Babcock International Group BAB.L, MondiMNDI.L and ConvaTec Group CTEC.L will trade without entitlement to its latest dividend pay-out on Thursday.
* FTSE: The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 1% higher on Wednesday, clinching a fresh record close, with consumer-related stocks leading the gains, while investors digested an inflation report that diminished hopes for a near-term Bank of England rate cut.
* UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Hays Plc | HAYS.L | FY Results |
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/
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(Compiled by Ankita Bora in Bengaluru)
((Ankita.Bora@thomsonreuters.com))