News: BHP UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on May 23

(Updates futures, Adds news items)

May 23 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening flat on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.02%.

• HARGREAVES LANSDOWN: Hargreaves Lansdown HRGV.L has rejected a 4.67 billion pound ($5.94 billion) takeover proposal from a consortium, led by CVC Advisers and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
• NATIONAL GRID: Britain's National Grid NG.L plans to

  raise

  about 7 billion pounds through a fully underwritten rights issue of 1.09 billion new shares as it gears up for 60 billion pound investment in energy network infrastructure.

• ROLLS-ROYCE: Britain's Rolls-Royce RR.L said it was confident on meeting its 2024 forecasts as air travel continues to grow.
• AVIVA: Aviva AV.L posted a 16%

  rise

  in general insurance gross written premiums to 2.7 billion pounds ($3.44 billion) in the first quarter, helped by strong performance in Britain.

• WIZZ AIR: European low-cost airline Wizz Air WIZZ.L

  forecast

  a higher annual profit n the back of a strong summer and robust travel demand, after swinging to an annual net profit after three years.

• JOHNSON MATTHEY: Johnson Matthey JMAT.L reported a

  fall

  in annual profit, hit by lower average prices of key raw materials such as precious metals.

• NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETY: Nationwide Building Society NBS.L reported its annual profit

  fell

  to 1.8 billion pounds, from 2.2 billion a year earlier.

• CMA: Britain's veterinary market will

  face

  a formal market investigation, after an initial review raised concerns about pricing and competition in the sector, the country's competition regulator confirmed.

• GOLD: Gold prices drift lower on hawkish Fed minutes
• OIL: Oil prices fall for fourth straight day as U.S. rate hike prospects emerge

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

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

($1 = 0.7860 pounds)