News: RIO UK Stocks-Factors to watch on July 16

July 16 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 14 points lower at 7,026 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers.

• RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto (RIO) RIO.L reported a 12% fall in quarterly iron ore shipments after storms affected its West Australian operations, but is expected to report bumper results this month on soaring prices for the steel raw material.
• SHELL: Oil and gas major Shell RDSa.L and Iberdrola-owned IBE.MC Scottish Power said on Friday they had joined forces to bid to develop large-scale floating wind farms off the coast of Scotland.
• BP: Energy companies BP Gas Marketing Ltd BP.L , Sempra LNG SRE.N , and IEnova IENOVA.MX said on Thursday that they have entered into a contract for the delivery and receipt of the companies' first carbon offset liquefied natural gas cargo.
• TAX: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is backing proposals for a new tax to pay for reforms to Britain's social care system under plans that could be agreed within weeks, the Times newspaper reported on Friday, citing a source.

• GOLD: Gold prices were headed for a fourth straight weekly gain after the U.S. Federal Reserve allayed investor fears of a faster tightening of monetary policy, though the safe-haven metal was subdued by pressure from a firmer dollar.
• OIL: Oil prices changed little, heading for their biggest weekly drop since March after supply concerns spooked investors, with OPEC likely to add more barrels amid expectations that demand is returning as more countries recover from the pandemic.
• The UK blue-chip index .FTSE marked its worst day in a week on Thursday dragged down by pharmaceutical and energy stocks, while UK-based cybersecurity firm Avast jumped to the top of the index amid merger talks.
• UK CORPORATE DIARY:

  N91.L Ninety One AuM update BRBY.L Burberry Trading update

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