UK Stocks-Factors to watch on May 22

May 22 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening higher on Friday, with futures up 0.42%. * BT: Indian conglomerate Bharti Enterprises is seeking to potentially increase its stake in BT to just under the threshold that would require it to make a full takeover offer for the British telecoms group, three people familiar with the matter said. * CONSUMER CONFIDENCE: British consumers have turned a little less downbeat this month but are the least willing to make big purchases in almost a year and a half, underscoring the fragile mood among households, according to a survey published on Friday. * OIL: Oil prices climbed on Friday but were on track for a weekly loss as investors doubted the prospects of a breakthrough in U.S.-Iran peace talks. * GOLD: Gold edged lower on Friday, pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar and as elevated oil prices have raised expectations for interest rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve. * METALS: London and Shanghai copper were on track to log a largely rangebound week on Friday, as investors weighed shifting headlines around U.S.-Iran peace talks. * FTSE: Britain's blue-chip stock index ended flat on Thursday, as risk sentiment remained shaky following downbeat domestic data and persisting worries that the Middle East conflict could remain deadlocked.

* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: TODAY'S UK PAPERS > Financial Times > Other business headlines (Compiled by Roshni Srivastava in Bengaluru)