June 10 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen

opening lower on Wednesday, with futures down 0.04%.

* BOOTS: Boots is in talks with the Weston family and

Australia's Sigma Healthcare ( SIGGF ) over a $10 billion sale

that would see the company scrap its plans for a London IPO, the

Financial Times reported.

* THAMES WATER: Thames Water would be liable to pay £749

million, including advisory fees to bankers and lawyers, if a

proposed deal handing senior creditors control of the utility

goes ahead, the Financial Times reported.

* EMPLOYMENT: British employers are offering almost a third

fewer summer jobs this year than in 2025, adding to the

challenges facing young people struggling to get a foothold in

the job market, Indeed data showed.

* OIL: Oil prices climbed after the U.S. military launched new

strikes against Iran and as market data showed another large

draw in U.S. crude stocks.

* METALS: Copper edged lower as volatility in the Middle East

conflict and macroeconomic concerns offset continued price

support from U.S. tariff expectations.

* GOLD: Gold fell to an 11-week low as the dollar and oil prices

rose on renewed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, fuelling

concerns about inflation and interest rate hikes.

* FTSE: Britain's blue-chip FTSE 100 hit its lowest since

mid-May on Tuesday, bogged down by losses in heavyweight lenders

HSBC and Standard Chartered, while energy giants also lost

ground amid declining oil prices as investors monitored the

Middle East conflict.

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

WH Smith ( WHTPF ) Q3 trading

statement

Pennon Group ( PEGRF ) FY results

Workspace Group ( WKPPF ) FY results

Fuller Smith & FY results

Turner

Motorpoint Group ( MTPTF ) FY results

* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please

click on:

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

> Financial Times

> Other business headlines

(Compiled by Neeshita Beura in Bengaluru)