News: RIO UK Stocks-Factors to watch on July 22

July 22 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures FFIc1 up 0.2%.

• BHP: BHP Group BHPB.L said it signed a nickel supply agreement with Tesla Inc TSLA.O and will work with the electric carmaker on lowering carbon emissions in the battery supply chain.
• RETAIL: Britain's retailers could open thousands of local high-street stores over the next 12 months as people start to step out again after months of coronavirus curbs, according to research from Barclays.
• RIO TINTO: Canadian union Unifor said on Wednesday miner Rio Tinto RIO.L has been served with a 72-hour strike notice after nearly seven weeks of unproductive negotiations over proposed changes to workers' retirement income and benefit levels.
• HISCOX: Insurer Hiscox Ltd HSX.L said the group's chief executive, Bronek Masojada, will retire at the end of the year and will be replaced by current Chief Financial Officer Aki Hussain.
• FOOD SUPPLY: Britain's food supply chains are "right on the edge of failing" as absence related to COVID-19 has aggravated a critical shortage of labour, a meat industry body said on Wednesday.
• OIL: Oil prices fell after an unexpected rise in U.S. crude oil inventories and as rising COVID-19 infections threaten demand.
• GOLD: Gold prices fell, weighed down by a stronger dollar and a rebound in risk sentiment as investors looked past economic threats from rising cases of the Delta coronavirus variant.
• Travel-related stocks and retailers helped London's FTSE 100 to record its strongest session in more than five months on Wednesday.
• UK CORPORATE DIARY:

  Howden Joinery HWDN.L HY earnings

  Unilever Plc ULVR.L HY earnings SSE Plc SSE.L Trading statement

  Workspace Group WKP.L Q1 management statement

  Daily Mail DMGOa.L Trading statement Centamin CEY.L Q2 production report Diploma DPLM.L Trading statement Centrica CNA.L HY earnings Britvic BVIC.L Trading statement Moneysupermarket.com MONY.L Trading statement

  IG Group IGG.L FY earnings

• For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:

  TODAY'S UK PAPERS > Financial Times > Other business headlines