UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Feb. 5

Feb 5 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 3 points lower at 6,501 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers.

* RIO TINTO: Global miner Rio Tinto Ltd RIO.AX said it should have better communicated to an Australian Aboriginal group whose ancient rockshelters it destroyed of a leadership change that affected efforts to mend their relationship.nL1N2KB0DY

* ROYAL DUTCH SHELL: Royal Dutch Shell Plc RDSa.L completed restarting the gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker (FCC) at its 227,400 barrel-per-day (bpd) Norco, Louisiana, refinery on Thursday, said sources familiar with plant operations.nL1N2KA3HG

* COVID-19: Britain's hotel quarantine policy for travellers arriving from COVID-19 hot spots will start on Feb. 15, the government announced on Thursday after critics said it was not moving fast enough to bring in the measures.nL8N2KA7DG

* BANK OF ENGLAND: The Bank of England gave British lenders at least six months' breathing space on Thursday before negative interest rates are a possibility, focusing instead on the prospects for a post-lockdown rebound in a quarterly update on the economy.nL1N2KA0T6

* GOLD: Gold inched up, recovering from a more than two-month low hit in the previous session, but the precious metal was set for its biggest weekly drop since end-November pressured by a firmer dollar.nL1N2KB03T

* OIL: Oil prices climbed to their highest levels in a year, extending a run of strong gains on signs of economic growth in the United States and a continued commitment by producers to hold back crude supply.nL1N2KB097

* The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed 0.1% lower on Thursday, dragged down by Unilever Plc ULVR.L and Royal Dutch Shell RDSa.L over disappointing sales goals and a slump in profit.nL4N2KA28A

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

Beazley Plc

BEZG.L

FY results

* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/

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(Reporting by Priyanshi Mandhan in Bengaluru)

((Priyanshi.Mandhan@thomsonreuters.com; +91 9650985606;))