Feb 8 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Tuesday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.13%.

* SHELL: Shell SHEL.L and Brazilian steelmaker Gerdau SA GGBR4.SA said they had reached a binding agreement to create a 50-50 joint venture for the development, construction and operation of a new solar farm in Brazil's Minas Gerais state.

* ASDA: Asda will put its lowest price food ranges in all its stores, it said, after poverty campaigner Jack Monroe criticised British supermarkets for cutting back their budget ranges.

* VODAFONE: Iliad SA ILD.PA made an offer for Vodafone's VOD.L Italian unit last week, Bloomberg News reported, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

* COVID-19 RULES: British consumers slowed the pace of their spending last month as the Omicron COVID-19 wave hit fuel sales and kept people away from bars and restaurants, according to a survey which also pointed to the impact of rising inflation.

* METALS: London aluminium prices hit a near four-month high boosted by dwindling inventories, while coronavirus curbs in the Chinese city of Baise has hit transportation of alumina raising concerns over a potential cut in production.

* GOLD: Gold prices were steady as inflationary pressures kept the safe-haven metal supported near previous session's one-week high, while market participants awaited U.S. inflation data that is crucial for the Federal Reserve's tapering timeline.

* OIL: Oil prices eased ahead of the resumption of indirect talks between the United States and Iran which may revive a nuclear deal that could lead to the removal of sanctions on Iranian oil sales, increasing global supplies.

* Britain's main equity index rose on Monday, led by banking stocks as investors continued to bet on rising interest rates globally, while stronger commodity prices lifted mining shares.

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

Bellway

BWY.L

Trading update DCC Plc

DCC.L

Interim Statement Micro Focus

MCRO.L

FY results BP

BP.L

Q4 results SSE

SSE.L

Q3 trading update Ocado

OCDO.L

FY results TUI AG

TUIGn.DE Q1 results

* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

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Reporting by Amna Karimi in Bengaluru