News: RIO UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on June 9

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June 9 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index .FTSE is seen opening lower on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.59%.

• BAT: British American Tobacco BATS.L said it was still working towards transferring its Russian business and that it was confident in delivering its financial targets irrespective of how long it takes to offload the unit.
• AO WORLD: British online electricals retailer AO World AO.L will close its business in Germany, it said on Thursday.

• FIRSTGROUP: British transport firm FirstGroup Plc FGP.L said it had rejected the latest takeover approach by private equity firm I Squared for 118 pence per share in cash and a contingent right of up to 45.6 pence apiece.
• BARCLAYS: Barclays BARC.L has hired veteran Lazard LAZ.N banker Jim Rossman as its global head of shareholder advisory, people familiar with the matter said.
• RIO TINTO: Mining giant Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO) said it had asked for proposals to develop wind and solar energy plants in Australia's Queensland state to power three of its aluminium projects by 2030.
• JOHN LEWIS: British retailer John Lewis Partnership announced the first three locations where it wants to build rental homes, part of its diversification plan to generate 40% of profit from outside its core business by 2030.
• FTSE 100: London's blue-chip index slipped on Wednesday on worries that aggressive policy tightening by central banks will stifle global growth, while Wizz Air fell after the budget airline forecast a first-quarter operating loss.
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