UK Stocks-Factors to watch on July 26

July 26 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 6 points higher at 7,664 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers.

* GSK: A U.S. Food and Drug Administration expert panel on Wednesday did not support approval of GlaxoSmithKline Plc's GSK.L drug Nucala in treating a disease that limits airflow to the lungs. ANGLO AMERICAN: Peru's President Martin Vizcarra will announce the start of Anglo American 's AAL.L copper project Quellaveco on Thursday, Vizcarra's office said in a statement. JOHN MENZIES: John Menzies MNZS.L is set to announce the sale of its newspaper distribution arm to private equity investor Endless for about 70 million pounds ($92.4 million), Sky News reported on Wednesday. GOLD: Gold prices held steady on Thursday as the dollar eased after U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker agreed to work towards eliminating trade barriers, easing immediate concerns about global trade tensions. OIL: Brent crude led oil prices higher, extending gains into a third day after Saudi Arabia suspended crude shipments through a strategic Red Sea shipping lane and as data showed U.S. inventories fell to a 3-1/2 year low. EX-DIVS: Royal Mail RMG.L and SSE Plc SSE.L will trade without entitlement to their latest dividend pay-out on Thursday, trimming 3.18 points off the FTSE 100 according to Reuters calculations. The UK blue chip FTSE 100 .FTSE index fell 0.7 percent and closed at 7,658.26 points on Wednesday, as mining stocks lost ground, with earnings in focus as ITV (LON:ITV) and Informa issued updates. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

Shell

RDSa.L

Q2 2018 Earnings Release Virgin Money Holdings (UK)

VM.L

Half Year 2018 Earnings Release Morgan Advanced Materials

MGAMM.L Half Year 2018 Earnings Release EVRAZ plc

EVRE.L

Q2 2018 Production Results Relx PLC

REL.L

Half Year 2018 Earnings Release Johnson Matthey PLC

JMAT.L

Q1 2019 Trading Statement Release Schroders PLC

SDR.L

Half Year 2018 Earnings Release National Express Group PLC

NEX.L

Half Year 2018 Earnings Release Bodycote PLC

BOY.L

Half Year 2018 Earnings Release Inchcape PLC

INCH.L

Half Year 2018 Earnings Release Howden Joinery Group PLC

HWDN.L

Half Year 2018 Earnings Release Countrywide PLC

CWD.L

Half Year 2018 Earnings Release PayPoint plc

PAYP.L

Q1 2018 Trading Statement Release CMC (NS:CMC) Markets PLC

CMCX.L

Q1 2019 Trading Update Diageo PLC

DGE.L

Full Year 2018 Earnings Release AstraZeneca PLC

AZN.L

Q2 2018 Earnings Release Smith & Nephew PLC

SN.L

Q2 2018 Earnings Release British American Tobacco

BATS.L

Half Year 2018 Earnings Release Sky PLC

SKYB.L

Q4 2018 Earnings Release Anglo American PLC

AAL.L

Half Year 2018 Earnings Release Compass Group PLC

CPG.L

Q3 2018 Trading Statement Release Daily Mail and General Trust DMGOa.L Q3 2018 Trading Statement Release Jardine Lloyd Thompson

JLT.L

Half Year 2018 Earnings Release SEGRO PLC

SGRO.L

Half Year 2018 Earnings Release Intermediate Capital

ICP.L

Trading Statement Release Kaz Minerals PLC

KAZ.L

Q2 2018 Production Report Lancashire Holdings Ltd

LRE.L

Q2 2018 Earnings Release Intu Properties PLC

INTUP.L Half Year 2018 Earnings Release Polymetal International PLC

POLYP.L Q2 2018 Production Results Release Vesuvius PLC

VSVS.L

Half Year 2018 Earnings Release Robert Walters

RWA.L

Half Year 2018 Earnings Release

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

> Financial Times

PRESS/FT

> Other business headlines

PRESS/GB

($1 = 0.7577 pounds)