June 29 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 40 points higher at 7,656 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers.
* BAE SYSTEMS: Britain's BAE Systems PLC BAES.L has won a A$35 billion ($25.7 billion) contest to deliver anti-submarine warfare frigates for the Australian navy, the Australian government said on Thursday. BHP BILLITON: Global miner BHP BLT.L said on Friday it had agreed to fund a total of $211 million in financial support for the Renova Foundation, created to help victims of the Samarco dam disaster in Brazil. SKY-DISNEY: Britain's takeover regulator is considering whether Walt Disney DIS.N might have to make a higher offer for Sky SKYB.L in the wake of the U.S. company's move to hike its bid for Twenty-First Century Fox assets to $71.3 billion. TESCO: Britain's biggest retailer Tesco TSCO.L is trialing a checkout-free method of payment for its convenience stores, allowing customers to scan products on their mobile devices and then walk out with them, it said on Thursday. GLENCORE: Chad and Glencore GLEN.L have signed a final agreement to restructure an oil-backed loan of more than $1 billion, the government of the West African country said in a statement on Thursday. BRITAIN BANKS: Small businesses that are victims of fraud, conspiracy and misconduct by British banks could soon be able to sue their lenders in a tribunal dedicated to helping them bring banks to justice without fear of financial ruin. GOLD: Gold prices edged up early Friday after slipping to a more than six-month low in the previous session, as the dollar softened from recent highs, but the yellow metal was headed for its worst monthly performance since November 2016. OIL: Oil prices dipped on Friday amid escalating trade friction between the United States and other major economies, although crude markets remain tight due to supply disruptions and generally high demand. The UK blue chip FTSE 100 .FTSE index closed down 0.1 percent at 7,615.63 points on Thursday, on renewed concerns over global trade but a strong performance of defensive stocks and a weaker pound helped limit its losses. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets
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