UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Aug 2

Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening down 26 points at 7,627 points on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers. * RANDGOLD RESOURCES: Mali's government has granted Randgold Resources a 50 percent corporate tax reduction for the next four years at its Gounkoto mine, the Africa-focused gold miner said on Wednesday. * GOLD: Gold prices rose on Thursday, recovering from the previous session's fall as the U.S. dollar edged lower against the Japanese