<div id="readability-page-1"><div> Britain's FTSE 100 CURRENCYCOM:UK100 index is seen opening lower on Tuesday, with futures down 0.1%. * PETS AT HOME: British pet care provider Pets at Home PETSP.L said it had appointed James Bailey as its chief executive officer, effective March 30, 2026. * OAKLEY CAPITAL: British sailor Ben Ainslie's Athena Racing team has secured a majority ownership investment from British equity firm Oakley Capital . * OIL: Oil prices slipped as traders weighed geopolitical risks against bearish fundamentals, after the U.S. signaled it might sell the Venezuelan crude it has seized while Ukraine's attacks on Russian vessels and piers heightened fears of supply disruption. * METALS: Copper prices ticked up, hovering near record levels hit in the previous session after Chilean miner Antofagasta ANTO.L and a Chinese smelter agreed on a zero processing fee for 2026 copper concentrate, underscoring supply constraints. * GOLD: Gold touched a record high, coming within a whisker of breaching the key $4,500 per ounce level, as investors flocked to the safe-haven metal amid U.S.-Venezuela tensions. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: TODAY'S UK PAPERS&gt; Financial Times &gt; Other business headlines </div></div>

PETS

UK's FTSE 100 index is expected to open lower. Pets at Home appoints James Bailey as CEO effective March 2026. Oakley Capital invests in Ben Ainslie's Athena Racing team. Oil prices dip amid geopolitical tensions. Copper prices rise due to supply constraints. Gold nears $4,500 per ounce amid U.S.-Venezuela tensions.

UK Stocks-Factors to watch on December 23