(Adds futures, news items)
Dec 16 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 28 points higher at 6,541 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures up 0.43% ahead of the cash market open.
* TRAVIS PERKINS: Britain's Travis Perkins TPK.L said it would return business rates relief and job retention scheme money for its Wickes and Toolstation stores after it continued to see strong demand in the DIY market. BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO: British American Tobacco BATS.L , the maker of Dunhill and Lucky Strike cigarettes, said its COVID-19 vaccine candidate was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Phase I human study. Dixons Carphone: Dixons Carphone DC.L reported a big rise in first-half profit, with a strong online performance more than offsetting the forced closure of its stores during COVID-19 lockdowns. BP BP.L has acquired a majority stake in the largest U.S. carbon offset developer, Finite Carbon, the oil major said, as part of its climate goals and to develop a new revenue stream. SUPERDRY: British fashion retailer Superdry SDRY.L said its founder and interim Chief Executive Officer Julian Dunkerton would permanently transition to the top job. RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX said underground mining at its biggest growth project, the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia, would achieve sustainable production by October 2022, according to a definitive estimate for its first panel of mining. AIRLINES: Britain's competition regulator said it would investigate whether airlines had breached consumers' legal rights by failing to offer cash refunds for flights they could not legally take due to lockdown rules. The UK blue-chip index .FTSE pared its losses to about 0.3% on Tuesday with consumer staples weighing the most. British mid-cap stocks gained ground in the final hour of trading as renewed hopes of a Brexit trade agreement overshadowed concerns over a weak labour market report and concerns over new restrictions in London. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/
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