(Refiles to drop item on ex-dividend stocks)
Jan 5 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening flat to 4 points higher, or up as much as 0.06 percent, on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.
* The UK blue chip index closed slightly firmer at 0.17 percent higher at 7,189.74 points, near a record high, on Wednesday as a rally in housebuilders was offset by a slump in retailers after Next NXT.L issued a profit warning. BARCLAYS: A former Barclays Plc BARC.L trader pleaded guilty on Wednesday to U.S. charges arising from a global investigation into the manipulation of foreign-exchange prices at major banks, the U.S. Department of Justice said. BHP BILLITON: Workers at BHP Billiton-owned BHP.AX BLT.L Escondida, the world's biggest copper mine, could go on strike in February if collective contract talks with the company are unsuccessful, union spokesman Carlos Allende told Reuters on Wednesday. GLENCORE: Russian state holding company Rosneftegaz closed a deal with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and commodities trader Glencore GLEN.L to sell a 19.5 percent stake in state-owned oil major Rosneft ROSN.MM , Rosneft said on Wednesday. UK ECONOMY: Britain's economy retained its momentum through the final months of 2016, but inflation pressures mounted at the fastest pace since records began almost 20 years ago, a major business survey showed on Thursday. UK CAR SALES: British new car sales hit a record of 2.7 million units in 2016 despite fears that the Brexit vote could hit demand, although there are signs that registrations will fall this year, preliminary industry data showed on Thursday. UK IMMIGRATION: Britain should look at introducing a regionally based immigration system in which visas could be issued for specific areas of the country, a parliamentary committee said in a report on Thursday. OIL: Oil prices dipped on Thursday on doubts producers would fully deliver on promises to cut output, although record U.S. automobile sales and falling crude stocks offered markets some support. O/R
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets
* UK CORPORATE DIARY: Persimmon PLC
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