News: RIO UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Feb 21

(Adds FTSE open, updates items)

Feb 21 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index opened 0.46% lower on Wednesday.

• BAE SYSTEMS: BAE Systems BAES.L posted a 14% jump in annual earnings, beating guidance, and said it expected further growth in 2024 as government orders for defence equipment surge due to rising geopolitical tensions.
• GLENCORE: Glencore GLEN.L said lower commodity prices had halved its earnings last year, and slashed its payout to investors, as the company saves to fund the acquisition of a 77% stake in Teck Resources' metallurgical coal business.
• RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto (RIO) RIO.L reported a 12% fall in annual underlying earnings on Wednesday, in line with forecasts, but paid a better-than-expected final dividend.
• BARCLAYS: Barclays BARC.L kicked off the first phase of a bumper buyback plan aimed at returning billions of pounds to investors on Wednesday, after appointing J.P. Morgan JPM.N to manage the purchase of around one billion of its shares up until Nov. 20.
• TATE & TYLE: British food ingredients maker Tate & Lyle Plc TATE.L forecast its annual revenue to come in "slightly" below year-ago levels, as softer demand and persistent de-stocking by customers weighed.
• HEATHROW: Heathrow Airport 80CX.L posted its first adjusted profit in four years, buoyed by firm travel demand in the last quarter of 2023.
• HSBC: HSBC Holdings HSBA.L reported a 78% jump in full-year profit, a record high gain on high interest rates, but missed forecasts as it was hit by an impairment from its stake in a Chinese bank.
• OIL: Oil prices regained some ground in Asian trade on Wednesday amid concerns over attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and growing expectations that cuts to U.S. interest rates will take longer than thought.

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