UK Stocks-Factors to watch on October 1

Oct 1 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Thursday, with futures down 0.5%.

* BOOTS: Sycamore Partners is close to selling British pharmacy chain Boots to the Weston family for about $9 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported.

* MONZO: Nubank NU.N said it is not pursuing a deal with Monzo, denying reports of early-stage acquisition talks with the British digital bank.

* RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto RIO.L secured government agreements to keep its Bell Bay Aluminium smelter in Tasmania operating through 2031.

* CLIMATE-REPORTING: Britain's financial regulator dropped plans to require a new climate-reporting standard for listed companies, retaining a "comply or explain" approach after concerns over costs and competitiveness.

* OIL: Oil prices were flat in early Asia trade as investors assessed US-Iran peace talks and the outlook for Middle East crude exports.

* GOLD: Gold prices were flat, as markets awaited key US jobs data to gauge the Federal Reserve's next policy move.

* METALS: Aluminium fell to its lowest level in more than two months, tracking a broader weakness in industrial metals and hopes that supply from the Middle East.

* EX-DIVS: Smith & Nephew SN.L and Weir WEIR.L will trade without entitlement to its latest dividend pay-out on Thursday.

* The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed down 0.29% on Wednesday after posting a monthly loss as persistent inflation concerns and rising bond yields dampened investor sentiment.

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

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

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