UK Stocks-Factors to watch on December 1

Dec 1 (Reuters) - Britain’s FTSE 100 (.FTSE) index is seen opening lower on Monday, with futures (FFIc1) down 0.22%. EASYJET: UK’s easyJet (EZJ.L) said it has already completed the software update on many A320 aircraft following a global recall issued by Airbus (AIR.PA) on Friday. AIRLINES: Britain’s Transport Minister Heidi Alexander said a recall issued by Airbus (AIR.PA) on its A320 family of jets for immediate repairs would have limited impact on UK airlines. BP: BP (BP.L) said it had begun restarting the 400-mile Olympic Pipeline after completing repairs on a leak east of Everett, Washington. NATWEST: NatWest Group (NWG.L) is in exclusive talks to sell its 85% stake in workplace pension provider Cushon to U.S. insurance broker Willis Towers Watson (WTW.O) just two years after the British bank acquired the business, two people with knowledge of the matter said. ECONOMIST PUBLICATION: The sale of a large stake in the Economist publication is coming to a head this week, as bidders submit expressions of interest by Friday’s deadline for a 27% stake, three people familiar with the matter said. BUDGET: British finance minister Rachel Reeves on Sunday denied she misled the public over official forecasts ahead of this month’s budget. SERVICES SECTOR: Optimism in Britain’s services sector declined at the fastest pace in three years in the three months to November, the Confederation of British Industry said on Monday. ECONOMIC GROWTH: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will set out on Monday his economic vision for the rest of the Labour government’s parliamentary term in a speech that builds on last week’s budget, his office said. COMMODITIES: Oil prices rose more than 1.5% on Monday, gold prices hit a six-week high, and copper touched new peaks. FTSE: The UK blue-chip index (.FTSE) added 0.3%, snapping a four-month winning streak on Friday. 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)