(Adds news items, updates futures)
Dec 29 - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening flat on Friday with futures marginally up 0.05%.
* HOUSE PRICES: British house prices fell by a bigger-than-expected 1.8% in the 12 months to December, mortgage lender Nationwide said.
* OIL: Oil prices are set to end 2023 about 10% lower, the first annual decline in two years, after geopolitical concerns, production cuts and global measures to rein in inflation triggered wild fluctuations in prices.
* GOLD: Gold prices were set for their best year in three, as expectations grew for U.S. interest rate cuts early next year and the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East lifted safe-haven demand.
* METALS: London copper prices climbed on Friday thanks to a weaker U.S. dollar and were headed for an annual rise in 2023 on firm Chinese demand and expectations of tightening supply.
* London shares ended little changed on Thursday after mid-cap stocks eased from a 10-month high earlier in the session as an equities rally stalled in thin holiday trade.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times
> Other business headlines (Reporting by Anchal Rana in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)
