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Jan 18 (Reuters) – Britain’s FTSE 100 index is seen opening lower on Wednesday with futures down 0.07%.

* RYANAIR: Ryanair is not seeing any signs of recession, CEO Michael O’Leary said, citing two weeks of record bookings this January and a recovery in demand from Britain. * BRITISHVOLT: Britishvolt filed for administration in a blow to the country’s hopes of building a home-grown battery industry.

* MELSROSE INDUSTRIES: Engineering firm GKN’s owner Melrose Industries refuted claims of a lapse of communication made by bondholders threatening enforcement action. * UK PROPERTY: UK property investment returns fell 10.4% in 2022, in a sharp turnaround from gains of 20% in 2021.

* RAIL STRIKES: Thousands of British train drivers will stage a fresh two-day walkout next month over a pay dispute, “http://burevestnik38.ru the country’s main transport workers’ unions said. * PAY DEALS: Pay awards by British employers held at 5% for the second month in a row in December.

* OIL: Oil prices rose, driven by optimism that the lifting of China’s strict COVID-19 curbs will lead to a recovery in fuel demand in the world’s top oil importer. * GOLD: Gold prices inched lower on Wednesday as the U.S. dollar firmed, while expectations of a slowdown in the pace of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes limited the losses.

* UK’s blue-chip index closed lower on Tuesday, ending a four-day winning streak after weak economic data from China raised concerns about global growth. UK CORPORATE DIARY: Antofagasta Trading Update Currys Trading Update Rathbone Brothers Trading Update Burberry Trading Update WH Smith Trading Update Diploma Trading Update * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: TODAY’S UK PAPERS > Financial Times > Other business headlines (Reporting by Sruthi Narasimha Chari in Bengaluru)