August 3 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is

seen opening higher on Monday, with futures up 0.4%.

* ASTRAZENECA ( AZN ): AstraZeneca ( AZN ) and Bristol Myers Squibb ( BMY )

held preliminary discussions about a possible

combination that would create one of the world's biggest

pharmaceutical companies with a combined value of nearly $400

billion.

* JOBS: British hiring fell in the first six months of 2026

with job postings for graduates at their lowest since 2020.

* ECONOMY: Britain's economy is likely to shrink in 2027 if

the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen to shipping before the

middle of next year.

* OIL: Oil prices tumbled more than $4 a barrel after U.S.

President Donald Trump held off on a fresh attack on Iran.

* GOLD: Gold rose as oil prices fell after U.S. President

Donald Trump held off on fresh attacks on Iran in hopes of a

swift deal.

* METALS: Nickel tumbled, lagging other base metals after

Indonesia resumed exports of minerals containing rare-earth

by-products, easing near-term supply concerns.

* London's FTSE 100 dipped from record highs on Friday, but

registered weekly and monthly gains as robust earnings buoyed

markets through a week of central bank decisions and Middle East

hostilities.

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

Senior PLC ( SNIRF ) HY Results

* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please

click on:

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

> Financial Times

> Other business headlines

(Compiled by Megha Kumari in Bengaluru)