News: RIO UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Sept 27

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Sept 27 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 46 points higher on Monday, with futures .FFIc1 up 0.98%.

• UNITED UTILITIES: Britain's United Utilities UU.L forecast higher revenue and profit for the first half, as water consumption by businesses starts returning to pre-pandemic levels and household demand remains high.
• ROLLS-ROYCE: Rolls-Royce RR.L said it had won a contest to provide engines for the U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers, following a multi-year competition.
• HIKMA: Hikma Pharmaceuticals HIK.L said it would buy U.S.-based sterile injectables company Custopharm in $375 mln deal.
• GAS STATIONS: British petrol and diesel stations are running dry across the land, with some big groups in English cities reporting 50% to 90% of pumps were dry, the Petrol Retailers Association said on Monday.
• BP: BP BP.L said nearly a third of its British petrol stations had run out of the two main grades of fuel on Sunday.

• COMPETITION LAWS: Britain suspended competition laws on Sunday to allow competing fuel suppliers to share information and coordinate their response to petrol shortages.
• GOLD: Gold prices firmed on Monday, propped up by a subdued dollar and slight retreat in the U.S. Treasury yields.

• OIL: Oil prices rose for a fifth straight day with Brent heading for $80 amid supply concerns as parts of the world sees demand pick up with the easing of pandemic conditions.

• London's FTSE 100 ended lower on Friday as concerns about a slowdown in global economic growth outweighed gains in healthcare and energy stocks.
• UK CORPORATE DIARY: Instem INS.L HY results United Utilities UU.L Trading update Medica Group MGPM.L HY results

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