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Feb 5 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 3 points lower at 6,501 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures .FFIc1 up 0.05% ahead of cash market open.
* BEAZLEY: Beazley BEZG.L swung to a loss in 2020 as it was hit hard by pandemic-related claims for cancelled or postponed events, but said it was confident of returning to profit in 2021. SIGNATURE AVIATION: The former owner of London's Gatwick Airport has joined forces with Blackstone (NYSE:BX) and Bill Gates' Cascade to bid for Signature Aviation SIGSI.L in an offer valuing the private jet services firm at $4.73 billion, the companies said. FRENCH CONNECTION: Struggling British fashion retailer French Connection FCCN.L said it has received two takeover approaches. ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) AZN.L said its cancer drug Imfinzi did not meet the main goal of improving overall survival in a trial. ENERGY: Energy prices for millions of Britons will likely rise from April after the energy regulator said it would increase its cap on the most widely used tariffs by around 9.2%. COVID-19: Britain's hotel quarantine policy for travellers arriving from COVID-19 hot spots will start on Feb. 15, the government announced on Thursday. GOLD: Gold inched up, recovering from a more than two-month low hit in the previous session. OIL: Oil prices climbed to their highest levels in a year, extending a run of strong gains on signs of economic growth in the United States and a continued commitment by producers to hold back crude supply. The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.1% lower on Thursday, dragged down by Unilever Plc ULVR.L and Royal Dutch Shell RDSa.L over disappointing sales goals and a slump in profit. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/
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