June 18 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening lower on Thursday, with futures down 0.6%.

* SUNDERLAND PLANT: The British government is in advanced talks with Japanese carmaker Nissan ( NSANF ) about providing it financial support in return for a long-term commitment and investment in its Sunderland plant, five sources with knowledge of the discussions said.

* HSBC ( HSBC ): HSBC's ( HSBC ), Australia unit has admitted to serious failures in protecting customers from scams and could face an A$35 million penalty pending court approval, Australia's corporate regulator said.

* DIAGEO ( DEO ): Diageo's ( DEO ) new boss, Dave Lewis, has asked executives to cut headcount and other costs as he begins restructuring the struggling spirits group, the Financial Times reported.

* OIL: Oil prices fell over $1 per barrel after the U.S. and Iran signed an interim agreement that would end the Iran war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and waive U.S. sanctions on Tehran's oil.

* METALS: Copper declined as hawkish Federal Reserve projections outweighed improvement in risk appetite following the U.S.-Iran peace deal.

* GOLD: Gold rose over 1%, recouping losses from the previous session, as a drop in oil prices following a U.S.-Iran interim agreement dampened inflation expectations and supported bullion.

* FTSE: Britain's FTSE indexes closed higher on Wednesday, with gains in miners offsetting broader declines, while investors weighed domestic inflation data ahead of interest rate decisions by the Bank of England and the U.S. Federal Reserve.

* EX-DIVS: Compass Group ( CMPGF ), 3i Group ( TGOPF ), Airtel Africa ( AAFRF ), Land Securities ( LSGOF ), British Land ( BRLAF ), and Persimmon will trade without entitlement to their latest dividend payout on Thursday.

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

Tesco ( TSCDF ) Q1 trading

statement

Whitbread ( WTBCF ) Q1 trading

statement

FirstGroup ( FGROF ) FY results

* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

> Financial Times

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(Compiled by Neeshita Beura in Bengaluru)