News: RIO UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on July 17

(Adds new items, updates futures)

July 17 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Wednesday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.1%.

• ANTOFAGASTA: Chilean miner Antofagasta ANTO.L said it expects full-year copper output at the lower end of its 670,000 to 710,000 metric ton forecast range due to lower ore grades.
• RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto (RIO) RIO.L said on Wednesday it has appointed Katie Jackson, a former Shell executive with responsibility for acquisitions, as its new copper head.
• BABCOCK: British engineering company Babcock BAB.L posted a 34% jump in its annual profit, helped by strong operating performance in nuclear, land and aviation sectors.
• RECKITT: Reckitt RKT.L said short-term sales of its Mead Johnson baby formula powder are likely to be affected after a tornado struck a third-party warehouse in Indiana that sustained significant damages.
• UK INFLATION: British inflation held at 2.0% last month, defying forecasts for a slight fall, and underlying price pressures persisted, maintaining uncertainty about the date of the Bank of England's first interest rate cut since 2020.
• STERLING: The pound rose slightly after data showed British headline and services inflation in June were slightly above expectations.
• HSBC: HSBC Holdings HSBA.L appointed Georges Elhedery as its group chief executive, with effect from Sept. 2, making him the third CEO in less than eight years for the global lender.
• OIL: Oil prices eased, with global benchmark Brent hovering near a one-month low hit in the prior session on signs of weakening demand in China.
• METALS: London copper was stuck in a tight range on Wednesday as supply concerns countered weak demand from top consumer China and pressure from a firmer dollar.

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