UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Nov 21

Nov 21 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.27%.

* PAY GROWTH: Growth in pay awards by British employers held steady in the three months to October but is expected to cool in 2025, according to a survey on Thursday that showed firms under pressure from the new government's decisions on tax and wages.

* LAWSUIT: Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) is facing 101 phone-hacking lawsuits from public figures, including actors Kate Winslet, Sean Bean, and Gillian Anderson as well as the estate of the late Australian cricketer Shane Warne, London's High Court heard on Wednesday.

* OIL: Oil prices edged higher on Thursday due to supply concerns triggered by escalating geopolitical tensions amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

* METALS: Base metals prices were largely higher on Thursday amid a softer dollar, but gains were minimal as market participants awaited more cues on potential U.S. tariff policies.

* GOLD: Gold prices rose for the fourth straight session on Thursday, driven by safe-haven demand amid escalating tensions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, while investors awaited remarks from Federal Reserve policymakers on the interest rate outlook.

* EX-DIVS: National Grid NG.L, Vodafone VOD.L, Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust SMT.L, DCC DCC.L, and B&M European Value Retail BMEB.L will trade without entitlement to their latest dividend payout on Thursday.

* The UK's FTSE 100 share index dipped on Wednesday, as hotter-than-expected inflation data tempered expectations for quick interest rate cuts and overshadowed optimism around software company Sage's upbeat quarterly profit.

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

* 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

(Reporting by Yamini Kalia in Bengaluru)

((Yamini.Kalia@thomsonreuters.com;))