Dec 5 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening flat on Friday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.05%.
* SHELL: Shell-led SHEL.L LNG Canada's second processing unit, known as Train 2, remains down nearly a month after its initial start-up, two sources told Reuters.
* BIG YELLOW GROUP: British self-storage company Big Yellow Group BYG.L said there was no basis of continuing discussions with Blackstone BX.N on a potential deal.
* FAST-TRACK LICENSING: Britain will launch a fast-track licensing regime for financial services startups allowing them to get up and running while they seek full authorisation, the finance ministry said, part of a wider drive to cut red tape and boost economic growth.
* OIL: WTI oil prices were heading for weekly gains of close to 2% in early trading on Friday, supported by an expected Federal Reserve interest rate cut, escalating U.S.-Venezuela tensions and stalled peace talks in Moscow.
* GOLD: Gold held flat, as higher U.S. Treasury yields blunted the lift from a weaker dollar, with investors awaiting key inflation data for signals on the Federal Reserve's path ahead of next week's meeting.
* METALS: Copper touched a record highFriday, after Citi lifted its price outlook for the industrial metal, with supply concerns and optimism around a likely interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve next week underpinning the market.
* FTSE: The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.2% higher on Thursday. UK stocks edged higher, boosted by gains in industrials and financials shares, while investors assessed corporate updates and economic data ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's rate decision next week.
* 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
(Compiled by Ankita Bora in Bengaluru)
((Ankita.Bora@thomsonreuters.com))
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