UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Aug 15

Aug 15 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is expected to open 52 points lower at 7,096 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.
* RYANAIR: Ryanair's RYA.I directly employed pilots in Ireland will strike for 48 hours next week, the Irish pilots' union Forsa/IALPA said on Wednesday, after mediated talks failed to bring an agreement with the company over the union's pay proposals. SPORTS DIRECT: Sports Direct SPD.L has followed up a statement announcing the departure of its auditor Grant Thornton with another saying its board was comfortable with its latest accounts. BARCLAYS: Barclays BARC.L is no longer providing banking services to major cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, ending a relationship that started in March last year as the exchange expanded in Europe. OIL: Oil prices fell on Thursday, adding to sharp overnight losses as U.S. crude inventories unexpectedly rose, fears of recession mounted and economic data out of China and Europe disappointed. GOLD: Gold prices rose on Thursday, as investors flocked to safer havens after an inverted U.S. bond yield curve pointed to new recession fears following poor economic data from Germany and China. EX-DIVS: Anglo American AAL.L , Ashtead AHT.L , Aviva AV.L , Evraz EVRE.L , HSBC HSBA.L , Legal & General LGEN.L , Mondi MNDI.L , Phoenix PHNX.L , Pearson PSON.L , RBS RBS.L , Shell RDSa.L , Segro SGRO.L and Standard Life SLA.L will trade without entitlement to its latest dividend pay-out on Thursday, trimming 29.9 points off the FTSE 100 according to Reuters calculations. Britain's FTSE 100 tumbled to its lowest in more than two months on Wednesday after the yields on 10-year U.S. and UK government bonds fell below two-year equivalents for the first time since the financial crisis, signalling mounting fears of recession. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Marshalls PLC
Half Year Earnings Release Kaz Minerals PLC
Half Year Earnings Release Georgia Capital PLC
Half Year Earnings Release GVC
Half Year Earnings Release GEM Diamonds
Trading Update Release Statement
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