UK Stocks-Factors to watch on September 17

Sept 17 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Thursday, with futures up 0.25%.

* ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca unveiled an investment of nearly 200 million yuan to upgrade its production and supply base in Wuxi, China, the company's Chinese unit said in a statement.

* BP: BP's BP.L Whiting refinery experienced a release earlier, which has been isolated and controlled, according to a post on the refinery's Facebook page.

Separately, BP said representatives from its Whiting refinery would meet with the United Steelworkers union Local 7-1 for a second round of talks as both seek to reach a new labour agreement.

* ANGLO AMERICAN: Hong Kong-listed miner MMG 1208.HK is willing to guarantee long-term ferronickel supplies to European customers as it seeks to rescue its acquisition of Anglo American's AAL.L Brazilian nickel business from mounting EU regulatory opposition, a company executive told Reuters.

* REVOLUT: Revolut has had no direct contact or demand from the individuals or group claiming responsibility for a data breach, a company spokesperson told Reuters.

* INTEREST RATES: The Bank of England looks set to keep interest rates on hold but investors are watching for any hint that surging energy prices could force it to follow the example of the U.S. Federal Reserve which raised borrowing costs a day earlier.

* COMMODITIES: Oil prices eased in Asian trade, gold prices rose, and copper rose.

* FTSE: British stocks rose on Wednesday as housing and construction shares rallied on the back of strong results from Barratt Redrow and a sharp retreat in gilt yields.

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

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

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