UK Stocks Factors to watch on Dec. 30

Dec 30 (Reuters) – Britain’s FTSE 100 (.FTSE) index is seen opening flat on Thursday, with futures down 0.07%.

* COVID-19 AID: Britain pledged 105 million pounds ($141.7 million) in emergency aid to help vulnerable nations, particularly in Africa, cope with the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant. read more

* COVID-19 CASES: The United Kingdom reported a record 183,037 COVID-19 cases, over 53,000 more than the previous high registered just a day earlier, government statistics showed. read more

* GOLD: Gold was on course to record its worst performance in six years, though prices steadied above the key $1,800 per ounce level in thin trade as a weak dollar countered pressure from firm Treasury yields. read more

* METAL: Copper prices edged down in range-bound Asian trading as 2021 draws to a close, but persisting concerns over supply propelled Shanghai aluminium to a two-month high. read more

* OIL: Oil prices rose to extend several consecutive days of gains, buoyed by data showing U.S. fuel demand holding up well despite soaring Omicron coronavirus infections. read more

* UK shares rose in thin holiday trading on Wednesday with defensive stocks leading gains against the backdrop of Britain reporting a record number of COVID-19 cases and announcing there would be no new pandemic-related curbs this year. read more

* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:

TODAY’S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times
> Other business headlines

Reporting By Amna Karimi in Bengaluru;
Editing by Vinay Dwivedi

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.