(Adds futures, news items)
Jan 15 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 3 points lower at 6,799 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures FFIc1 down 0.34% ahead of cash market open.
* BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO: British American Tobacco BATS.L said the UK's Serious Fraud Office had closed an investigation into suspicions of corruption by the company, more than three years after initiating it. SEGRO: Segro Plc SGRO.L said it has collected 98% of all rent for the full year ended Dec. 31. AstraZeneca: AstraZeneca AZN.L said its cancer drug Imfinzi had been approved in Europe and Britain for a spaced-out, fixed-dose regimen for a common type of lung cancer, to help reduce the frequency of hospital visits. ASHMORE: A strong rally in emerging market assets, especially equities, helped lift assets under management at money manager Ashmore ASHM.L by 9% in the last quarter of 2020, the group said. MEGGIT: Meggitt MGGT.L said the recent launch of COVID-19 vaccines and pent-up demand could support a recovery in civil aviation this year, but sounded caution over the logistical challenges of a global roll-out. INDIVIOR: Indivior Plc INDV.L said it now expects annual revenue to be in the range of $645 to $650 million, higher than its prior forecast, thanks to recovery in sales of its opioid addiction treatment in the final quarter. ENTAIN: Entain Plc ENT.L is in advanced talks to appoint Jette Nygaard-Andersen as its next chief executive, Sky News reported on Thursday. ECONOMY: Britain's economy shrank by 2.6% in November, the first monthly fall in output since the country was under its initial COVID lockdown last April as new restrictions were imposed to slow the spread of the disease. GOLD: Gold ticked up as prospects of a substantial U.S. pandemic relief package boosted the metal's appeal as an inflation hedge. OIL: Oil prices were lower over concerns of Chinese cities in lockdown due to coronavirus outbreaks. The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.8% higher on Thursday as a slew of upbeat corporate earnings supported investor sentiment. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/
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