News: BHP UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on April 26

(Adds new items, updates futures)

April 26 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Friday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.73%.

• ANGLO AMERICAN: Anglo American AAL.L rejected rival BHP Group's (BHP) 31.1-billion-pound ($38.88 billion) takeover proposal, saying the bid significantly undervalued the London-listed miner and its future prospects.
• ANGLO AMERICAN: South Africa's government is scrutinising BHP's proposal to buy Anglo American, a spokesperson said, with the deal likely to concern officials, coming weeks before a general election where the governing party's majority is at risk.
• NATWEST: NatWest's NWG.L first-quarter profit fell by a less-than-expected 27%, it said, hit by competition for savings, lending and mortgage products which has squeezed margins across the sector.
• PEARSON: British education company Pearson PSON.L said its year had started well, with a 3% rise in adjusted underlying sales in the first quarter and an expectation that growth would accelerate in the second half.
• CONSUMER SENTIMENT: British consumer sentiment returned to a two-year high this month as households took a more positive view of the economy and their own finances, a long-running survey showed.
• OIL: Oil prices rose in early trade as players took stock of the U.S. Treasury secretary's comments that the country's economy is likely in a stronger position than indicated by weak first-quarter data.
• GOLD: Gold prices edged lower and were set for a weekly decline as investor attention turned to key U.S. inflation data for cues on the Federal Reserve's interest rate trajectory.
• METAL: Copper prices edged higher and closer to a strong resistance level of $10,000 a metric ton and other base metals also gained, backed by investment flows from funds.

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