News: TAH UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on May 28

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May 28 (Reuters) - Futures for Britain's FTSE 100 index FFIc1 were 0.27% higher on Friday.

• A.G. BARR: A.G. Barr BAG.L said sales of its soft drinks and cocktail mixes got a boost as people went back to leisure drinking after months of COVID-19 lockdowns, putting the company on track to meet its targets this year.
• ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca Plc AZN.L said the European Commission has approved its Tagrisso drug to treat patients with a type of early-stage lung cancer.
• ENTAIN: Australia's BetMakers Technology Group Ltd (BET) intensified a three-way bidding war for Tabcorp Holdings Ltd's (TAH) wagering and media business, which dwarfs separate A$3.5 billion offers by Entain ENT.L and Apollo Management APO.N for the Tabcorp unit.
• FOREX: The British pound held firm near a three-month high against the dollar on Friday on rising expectations of an earlier than expected rate hike by the Bank of England, while the U.S. currency looks to upcoming inflation data.
• PRECIOUS: Gold prices edged lower as an uptick in the dollar and U.S. Treasury yields weighed on the safe-haven metal, while investors awaited crucial U.S. inflation data due later in the day to gauge inflationary pressure.
• OIL: Oil prices pushed higher, supported by firm U.S. economic data and expectations of a strong rebound in global fuel demand in the third quarter, while concerns eased about the impact of any return of Iranian supplies.
• The UK mid-cap index .FTMC higher on Thursday, outperforming the blue-chip index for a third straight session led by gains in Meggitt and real estate stocks, while Equiniti Group jumped after agreeing to a take-private deal.
• For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:

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