News: RIO UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Oct 22

Oct 22 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Friday, futures FFIc1 up 0.4%.

• RIO TINTO: Australia's securities watchdog has closed its investigation into former Rio Tinto (RIO) executive Alan Davies over an alleged $10.5 million payment to a consultant in Guinea, citing insufficient evidence, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters.
• INFLATION: A record proportion of the British public thinks inflation will accelerate over the next 12 months, according to data that could further boost expectations that the Bank of England will raise interest rates next month.

• CONSUMER SENTIMENT: People in Britain are their most downbeat since they were under lockdown in February, and are increasingly worried about the year to come as prices and COVID cases rise, according to a long-running survey published.
• INFLATION: The Bank of England's new chief economist, Huw Pill, said inflation in Britain could surpass a "very uncomfortable" 5% and the question of whether to raise interest rates was a "live" one at its early November meeting, the Financial Times reported.
• WISE PLC: Wise Plc WISEa.L co-founder Taavet Hinrikus would sell about 1.1%, of the money transfer company's Class A shares through an accelerated bookbuilding process, the company said on Thursday.
• GOLD: Gold was poised for a second weekly gain, drawing support from a softer dollar which offset higher U.S. bond yields and rising expectations central banks could begin easing economic support.
• OIL: Oil prices resumed their climb on continued tightness in U.S. supply, but were headed for a flat finish on the week as coal and gas prices eased, curbing fuel-switching which had stoked demand for oil products for power.
• London's FTSE 100 index fell on Thursday, as miners dropped due to rising troubles in China's property sector and investors fretted about rate-hike prospects.
• UK CORPORATE DIARY:

  LSE LSEG.L Trading update

  InterContinental Hotels IHG.L Trading update

  Record Plc RECL.L Trading update

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