News: BHP UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on July 18

(Adds new items, updates futures)

July 18 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.7%.

• ANGLO AMERICAN: Anglo American AAL.L said its copper output was almost flat in the first half, while it curbed its output forecast for coking coal, combined woes that are likely to weigh on its earnings just months after rebuffing a takeover bid from bigger rival BHP Group (BHP) .
• IDS: International Distribution Services (IDS) IDSI.L , the owner of Britain's Royal Mail, reported an 8.2% rise in revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 on Thursday, supported by strong parcel demand and more postal votes during the UK elections.
• FRASERS: Frasers, the British sportswear and apparel retailer that owns the Sports Direct brand, reported a 13.1% rise in annual profit and forecast more growth in its new financial year as it benefits from a plan to shift the group upmarket.
• DUNELM: British homewares retailer Dunelm Group DNLM.L forecast its annual profit to be slightly higher than market consensus, encouraged by an increase in volumes as customers spent on new furnishings to spruce up their homes.
• EVOKE: British betting firm Evoke 888.BN forecast profits in the second half of 2024 to increase "significantly", after its online revenue returned to growth in the three months ended June 30.
• PREMIER FOODS: Britain's Premier Foods PFD.L reported a rise in first-quarter sales on the back of strong branded sales growth, and maintained its forecast for the year.
• OIL: Oil prices extended gains from the previous session, buoyed by a bigger-than-expected decline last week in crude stocks in the United States, the world's largest oil consumer.

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