* BRITISH AIRWAYS: The U.S. Transportation Department (USDOT) imposed a $135,000 penalty on British Airways over a 2017 tarmac delay in which it failed to ensure the timely deplaning of passengers.
* OIL: Oil fell as weak U.S. economic data raised concerns over a potential global recession and demand reduction, but benchmark prices were headed for a weekly advance after OPEC+ announced further output cuts and U.S. oil stocks dropped.
* GOLD: Gold prices slipped from one-year highs as the dollar regained some ground, while investors awaited the U.S. non-farm payrolls report to gauge the Federal Reserve's monetary policy strategy.
* METALS: Copper prices rose, supported by supply concerns amid tightening inventories and production disruptions, on the back of improving demand from top consumer China and a shaky U.S. dollar.
* FTSE: The UK's FTSE 100 rose on Wednesday after data showed that the dominant service sector in March reported the strongest new business expansion in a year, while shares of drugmaker AstraZeneca climbed to the top of the benchmark index.
* UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Shell Plc Q1 Quarterly Update
Ferrexpo Q1 Production report Robert Walters Q1 Trading update
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: TODAY'S UK PAPERS > Financial Times > Other business headlines (Reporting by Prerna Bedi in Bengaluru)
