(Adds futures, company news items)
Jan 29 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE futures FFIc1 were up 1.3
percent at 0709 GMT, ahead of the cash market open. For more on the factors
affecting European stocks, please click on The UK blue chip index fell 1 percent at 5,931.78 points by the close on
Thursday, weighed down by Ashtead Group Plc AHT.L and travel stocks hit by
rising oil prices.
* SKY: Sky SKYB.L said James Murdoch, son of founder Rupert Murdoch, would
rejoin as chairman as the European pay TV group reported a better-than-expected
12 percent rise in profit after signing up record numbers of new customers.
* AG BARR: AG Barr BAG.L , the maker of Irn-Bru and Rubicon fizzy drinks,
said it expected fourth-quarter revenue growth in excess of 2.5 percent after a
robust performance in the period.
* ROLLS-ROYCE: Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC's RR.L Chief Executive will on
Friday announce job cuts from his 2,000 strong senior manager team, the
Financial Times reported.
* BHP BILLITON: The Canadian arm of mining giant BHP Billiton BLT.L
BHP.AX has signed a letter of intent to help fund exploration at Aston Bay
Holdings Ltd's BAY.V Storm copper project, Aston Bay said on Thursday.
* UK BANKS: Banks that mis-sold complex financial products to shield
companies from interest rate hikes that never happened have paid 2.1 billion
pounds ($3 billion) in compensation so far, with reviews of customers completed,
Britain's Financial Conduct Authority said on Thursday.
* BRITISH CONSUMER CONFIDENCE: British consumer morale rose for a second
month in a row in January to hit its highest level since last summer, but
households remain pessimistic about the outlook for the country's economy, a
survey showed on Friday. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Premier Veterinary Group PVGP.L Full Year 2015 Premier
Plc Veterinary Group Plc
Earnings Release
A.G.Barr Plc BAG.L A.G.Barr Plc Trading
Statement Release
Sky Plc SKYB.L Q2 2016 Sky Plc Earnings
Release
Vedanta Resources Plc VED.L Q3 2016 Vedanta Resources
Plc Production Results
Release
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times PRESS/FT
> Other business headlines PRESS/GB
Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for:
* 3000 Xtra : visit http://topnews.session.rservices.com
* BridgeStation: view story .134
For more information on Top News visit
http://topnews.reuters.com