Jan 29 - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen

opening lower on Wednesday, with futures down 0.12%.

* PENNON: British water utility Pennon Group ( PEGRF ) said it

is launching a fully underwritten rights issue for about 490

million pounds ($610.1 million) to fund investments of 3.2

billion pounds in its water businesses.

* DOWLAIS ( DWLAF ): U.S. autoparts maker American Axle and

Manufacturing ( AXL ) will buy GKN Automotive owner Dowlais ( DWLAF )

in a cash-and-stock deal, valuing the London-listed firm

at about 1.16 billion pounds ($1.44 billion), the companies said

on Wednesday.

* AJ BELL: British investment platform AJ Bell

posted a 17% jump in its first-quarter managed assets, helped by

a rise in customers and elevated pension contributions in the

run-up to the October 2024 Budget.

* WH SMITH ( WHTPF ): British travel retailer WH Smith ( WHTPF )

reported a 4% rise in its group revenue for the 21-week period

ended Jan. 25, fuelled by higher footfall as more people

travelled during the Christmas holiday season.

* PLAYTECH ( PYTCF ): British gambling technology firm Playtech ( PYTCF )

said that Chairman Brian Mattingley will step down from

the board but remain with the firm for a few months to ensure a

handover to his successor.

* ANGLO AMERICAN: Miner Anglo American said it had

completed the sale of its 33.3% stake in Jellinbah Group to

Zashvin for total cash proceeds reaching A$1.6 billion (nearly

$1 billion).

* CMA: Britain's Competition and Markets Authority said it

was weighing whether a merger of Spain's Iberdrola and

NWEN Ltd could reduce competition in the energy sector.

* OIL: Oil prices slid on Wednesday.

* GOLD: Gold prices were little changed.

* METALS: London copper hit a three-week low.

* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please

click on:

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

> Financial Times

> Other business headlines

(Reporting by DhanushVignesh Babu in Bengaluru)