London pre-open: Stocks to nudge up in quiet trade

(Sharecast News) - London stocks were set to nudge up at the open on Friday in very quiet trade, with most traders still away from their desks for the Christmas and new year break. The FTSE 100 was called to open around five points higher after a muted session on Wall Street on Thursday.

Corporate news was unsurprisingly scarce, but life science investor Syncona said its investment Achilles Therapeutics has sold technology assets to AstraZeneca for $12m (£9.58m).

The deal involves transferring of the commercial license of data and samples from Achilles' TRACERx non-small cell lung cancer study to AstraZeneca, including samples and data.

Gemfields reported further incidents of unrest near its Montepuez Ruby Mining operation in Mozambique, where groups linked to illegal mining had attempted to invade company facilities and set fire to community structures.

The AIM-traded firm said two individuals were killed during a confrontation with security forces on 24 December, prompting the temporary relocation of some personnel, though a phased return had begun with plans to resume normal operations by the end of the year.

A vocational training centre and farming supplies in a nearby village were also looted, with Gemfields saying it was "closely monitoring" the situation.