News: RIO UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Jan 21

Jan 21 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen to open 103 points lower at 7,482 on Friday.

• RIO TINTO: Shares in Rio Tinto (RIO) tumbled on Friday after Serbia revoked its lithium exploration licences over environmental concerns, hurting the Anglo-Australian miner's ambition to become Europe's largest supplier of the metal used in electric vehicles.
• SHELL: Mexican state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos PEMX.UL on Thursday signed a long-term crude supply contract with Royal Dutch Shell Plc RDSa.L as part of its acquisition of the Deer Park refinery in Texas.
• SHELL: Royal Dutch Shell RDSa.L and British regulators have revived talks on developing the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea as the government struggles with soaring gas and power prices, company and industry sources said.
• BHP: BHP Group BHPB.L investors in London and Sydney have approved plans to scrap the mining company's dual listing in favour of a main listing in Sydney.
• UNILEVER: Unilever ULVR.L strategy was under the investor microscope on Thursday after the consumer goods group effectively abandoned its 50 billion pound ($68 billion) pursuit of GlaxoSmithKline's consumer healthcare business.
• OIL: Oil prices plunged after rising to seven-year highs this week, as an increase in U.S. crude and fuel stockpiles prompted investors to take profits from the rally.
• GOLD: Gold prices edged higher and were set for a second weekly gain, as safe-haven demand and lower U.S. bond yields lifted the metal's appeal, while investors look forward to a Federal Reserve meeting for clues to its tightening timeline.
• London's FTSE 100 slipped on Thursday on weakness in oil stocks and GlaxoSmithKline while food delivery platform Deliveroo jumped on order growth hitting the top of its outlook range.

• UK CORPORATE DIARY: Close CBRO.L Trading Brothers Update
• For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:

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