Adds new items, FTSE 100 moves
Jan 15 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index opened 0.28% lower on Wednesday.
* UK INFLATION: British inflation unexpectedly slowed last month and core measures of price growth - tracked by the Bank of England - fell more sharply, according to official data.
* SHELL: Shell SHEL.L plans to close its Madrid gas trading operations for tax reasons, Spanish newspaper Cinco Dias reported, citing unnamed sources close to the matter.
* BP: Iraq has signed a preliminary agreement with BP to evaluate the possibility of redeveloping the Kirkuk oil and gas field and other neighbouring fields, Iraqi state news agency reported.
* CURRYS: British electricals retailer Currys CURY.L raised its annual profit outlook after reporting a 2% rise in underlying sales for the Christmas trading period.
* EXPERIAN: Credit data company Experian EXPN.L posted an 8% rise in third-quarter revenue and maintained the outlook for the year boosted by strong performance across segments.
* IDS: Britain's International Distribution Services IDSI.L said its revenue inched 0.8% higher during the busy Christmas period.
* VISTRY: Vistry VTYV.L, Britain's largest homebuilder by output, said that market conditions for the current fiscal year remained uncertain.
* HAYS: British recruiter Hays HAYS.L forecast first-half operating profit below market expectations citing weakness across Europe.
* LIONTRUST: Liontrust Asset Management LIO.L flagged sustained "external headwinds" facing British fund firms, as it reported net outflows of 1.6 billion pounds in the three months to end-December.
* ASHMORE: Emerging markets-focused wealth manager Ashmore ASHM.L reported a 6% fall in second-quarter managed assets.
* Mitchells & Butlers: Britain's pub group Mitchells & Butlers MAB.L reported higher like-for-like sales in the first quarter of 2025.
* ASOS: Britain's ASOS Plc ASOS.L said it plans to close its Atlanta distribution centre.
* 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
(Reporting by Yamini Kalia and DhanushVignesh Babu in Bengaluru)
((Yamini.Kalia@thomsonreuters.com;))