Jan 11 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 3 points higher at 6,876 on Monday, according to financial bookmakers.
* ROYAL MAIL: Royal Mail Plc RMG.L will name board member Simon Thompson as its next chief executive in the coming days, Sky News reported on Sunday. HSBC: Major HSBC HSBA.L shareholders are calling on Europe's biggest bank to toughen its commitment to cut lending linked to fossil fuels and to turn its climate "ambitions" into targets. EASYJET: EasyJet EZJ.L announced a new five-year term loan facility of $1.87 billion on Friday, which will be secured on aircraft upon drawing. ENVIRONMENT: A British local government pension group has urged mining giants Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX and BHP BHPB.L to clarify how they intend to protect the environment in and around an Arizona copper project that is opposed by many Native American tribes. ECONOMY: British minister Rishi Sunak expressed concern that higher interest rates might one day jack up the cost of servicing government debt, in comments published on Sunday. COVID-19: Britain will open seven large-scale vaccination centres on Monday, helping to accelerate the rollout of COVID-19 shots that the government wants to deliver to all vulnerable people by mid-February. GOLD: Gold prices touched a near six-week low, as a stronger dollar and higher U.S. Treasury yields pressured the non-yielding bullion. OIL: Oil prices fell hit by renewed concerns about global fuel demand amid tough coronavirus lockdowns in Europe and new curbs on movement in China where infections jumped. The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.2% higher on Friday with gains of more than 6% as investors bet on a swift economic recovery. UK CORPORATE DIARY:
SIG Plc
FY trading update Abcam Plc
Trading statement
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times
PRESS/FT
> Other business headlines
PRESS/GB