Dec 14 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is expected to open higher on Thursday, with futures up 0.99%.

* SERCO: British outsourcing company Serco Group on Thursday forecast 2024 profit to increase to around 260 million pounds ($328.5 million).

* BUNZL: UK's Bunzl said it now expected full-year adjusted operating profit to be "slightly ahead" of its prior guidance.

* CURRYS: British electricals retailer Currys on Thursday stuck to its annual

guidance

as it reported a first-half loss in line with last year.

* THAMES WATER: Britain's Thames Water named Chris Weston as its new

chief

executive.

* STHREE: UK's SThree posted a

fall

in annual net fees on Thursday.

* HSBC: HSBC Holdings said on Thursday its best lending rate in Hong Kong remains unchanged at 5.875%.

* SHELL: Shell said on Wednesday said it had acquired the remaining 20% working interest in the Kaikias field in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

* BP: BP said on Wednesday its former CEO Bernard Looney will not receive further salary or benefits.

* BP: BP Energy won the auction for oil and gas production rights of the offshore block of Tupinamba in Brazil's Santos Basin.

* HOUSING: Britain's property market saw some recovery in November as a surge in mortgage rates eased, an industry survey showed on Thursday.

* METAL: Prices of most base metals rose on Thursday .

* GOLD: Gold prices extended their climb to a one-week high on Thursday.

* OIL: Oil prices rose in Asian trade on Thursday, extending previous gains.

* FTSE 100: The UK's FTSE 100 closed slightly higher on Wednesday.

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

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

> Financial Times

> Other business headlines (Reporting by Hani Kollathodi in Bengaluru)