June 12 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen

opening higher on Friday, with futures up 0.9%.

* SHELL: Venezuela signed five agreements with Shell to

advance oil and gas projects, including the company's

participation in the coveted 7-trillion-cubic-feet Loran

offshore gas field, the government said.

* HEALTH: Britain's medicine regulator approved Novo Nordisk's

weight-loss pill, making the UK the first market in

Europe where patients can access the oral treatment and boosting

the Danish drugmaker as it battles U.S. rival Eli Lilly ( LLY ).

* OIL: Oil prices fell over $1, extending losses from the

previous session after U.S. President Donald Trump cancelled

plans to strike Iran, reducing fears of an escalation of

hostilities following tit-for-tat attacks earlier in the week.

* METALS: Copper firmed amid easing oil prices and a wave of

optimism that a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran to end the

war may be within reach.

* GOLD: Gold prices fell and were on track for a weekly loss,

pressured by concerns around inflation and potential U.S.

Federal Reserve interest rate hikes.

* FTSE: London's FTSE 100 index climbed on Thursday, supported

by a recovery in financials stocks, though concerns lingered

over the Iran war and surging corporate spending on artificial

intelligence.

* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please

click on:

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

> Financial Times

> Other business headlines

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(Compiled by Neeshita Beura in Bengaluru)