Feb 20 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.09%.

* WOOD GROUP: Wood Group WG.L said CFO Arvind Balan will step down with immediate effect following an incorrect description of his professional qualifications.

* RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto RIO.AX, RIO.L does not support consolidating the company's dual-exchange share listing in Sydney, its CEO told as the miner reported its lowest full-year underlying earnings in five years.

* ANGLO AMERICAN: Miners Codelco and Anglo American AAL.L are set to announce a deal to jointly operate Andina division and Los Bronces mine in Chile, according to La Tercera.

* OIL: Oil prices edged lower after an industry report showed a build in U.S. crude stockpiles.

* GOLD: Gold prices held firm near a record high.

* METALS: Metals prices were rangebound, with aluminium holding firm at a one-month high.

* EX-DIVS: BP BP.L, AstraZeneca AZN.L, Easyjet EZJ.L, Imperial Brands IMB.L and Moonpig MOONM.L will trade without entitlement to its latest dividend pay-out on Thursday.

* The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed down 0.62% on Wednesday touching its lowest level in over a week.

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

* 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 Simone Lobo in Bengaluru)

((Simone.Lobo@thomsonreuters.com; +919920570373;))