Adds new items, updates futures

April 16 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Wednesday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.44%.

* INFLATION: British inflation slowed to its weakest in three months in March according to official figures.

* STERLING: Sterling dropped slightly but remained up on the day against the dollar thanks to earlier gains.

* FRC: Britain's Financial Reporting Council has opened an investigation into EY over its audit of Post Office Limited , it said.

* BUNZL: Bunzl BNZL.L said it was lowering its 2025 forecast to account for ongoing operational challenges in North America.* BARRATT REDROW: Barratt Redrow BTRW.L said its forward sales were 10.1% lower at March-end.

* MITIE: Mitie Group MTO.L lifted its annual profit outlook and forecast double-digit growth in revenue.

* WH SMITH: WH Smith SMWH.L reported slightly lower profit for the first-half of the year compared, as high inflation and tighter budgets led to lower passenger numbers.

* HAYS: Hays HAYS.L reported a 9% fall in third-quarter like-for-like net fees and warned hiring market conditions will remain tough in fiscal year 2026.

* PLAYTECH: Playtech PTEC.L named John Gleasureas its new non-executive chairman.

* RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto RIO.AX, RIO.L reported its lowest first-quarter iron ore shipments since 2019 and warned that more weather disruptions could lead to a 2025 forecast miss.

* OIL: Oil prices edged lower as shifting U.S. tariff policies fuelled uncertainty.

* GOLD: Gold prices hit an all-time peak as a weaker dollar due to escalating trade tensions and concerns over global economic growth.

* METALS: London copper prices fell on persistent global economic uncertainty triggered by tariffs.

* 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;))