UK Stocks-Factors to watch on September 25
Sept 25 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Friday, with futures up 0.2%.
* BP: BP BP.L is weighing a potential acquisition of Devon Energy's DVN.N operations in South Texas as part of renewed efforts by the British supermajor to grow its shale asset base in the US, people familiar with the matter said.
* AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY: Brussels has told Prime Minister Andy Burnham that Britain would need to raise tariffs on Chinese cars and more closely align with EU trade policy if it wants to avoid “made in Europe” barriers that would hit key exports, the Financial Times reported.
* CONSUMER CONFIDENCE: British consumer confidence unexpectedly struck a more than two-year high this month as households grew more optimistic about their personal finances, according to a survey.
* OIL: Oil prices fell slightly as markets weighed the possibility of a truce between the US and Iran against the bombing of Saudi Arabia by Houthi rebels after a week of price spikes.
* GOLD: Gold prices eased and were set to post a weekly loss, pressured by a stronger dollar and growing expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates elevated to contain inflation.
* METALS: Copper prices nudged up and were set to end the week higher, capping a volatile week in which tightness in big consumer China pushed up prices before a stronger dollar and inflation concerns pared back some of those gains.
* FTSE: London shares fell on Thursday as continued fighting in the Middle East pushed oil prices to one-week highs, stoking inflation concerns worldwide and lifting government bond yields.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/
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