UK Stocks-Factors to watch on March 19 (updated)

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19/03/2026 08:08

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March 19 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index dropped 0.9% by 0804 GMT.

* BP: BP BP.L said it would sell its German oil refinery site in Gelsenkirchen to investment firm Klesch Group.

* ENERGEAN: Energean ENOG.L suspended its 2026 outlook for Israel after the Middle East conflict forced the shutdown of its production vessel that serves multiple Israeli fields.

* GULF KEYSTONE PETROLEUM: Gulf Keystone Petroleum GKP.L has put its 2026 production forecast under review while suspending its financial guidance, citing security concerns amid the ongoing Iran conflict.

* DFS FURNITURE: DFS DFSD.L reported a rise in half-year adjusted pretax profit.

* BAE SYSTEMS: BAE Systems BAES.L will sell its remaining stake in Kazakhstan's Air Astana.

* IG GROUP: IG Group IGG.L launched a strategic review that could include changes to its domicile and listing venues and possible industry tie-ups.

* HSBC: HSBC HSBA.L is weighing a wave of deep job cuts over the coming years that could ultimately impact around 20,000 roles, Bloomberg News reported.

* ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca AZN.L said it will build a cell therapy manufacturing and supply base and innovation centre in Shanghai.

* SHELL: Macquarie Group MQG.AX has expressed early interest in bidding for Shell's SHEL.L European onshore renewable energy business, according to people familiar with the matter.

* UNILEVER: Unilever ULVR.L and Kraft Heinz KHC.O had recently held talks over a potential merger of parts of their food businesses, the Financial Times reported.

* ANGLO AMERICAN: Anglo American AAL.L expects to get final regulatory approval for its merger with Teck Resources around the year-end, the company's Brazil CEO Ana Sanches said.

        * WAGES: British wages, excluding bonuses, rose at their slowest pace since late 2020 in the three months to January, according to official data.

* COMMODITIES: Oil prices rose, while gold fell and copper slid to its lowest point in three months.

* EX-DIVS: Standard Charterred STAN.L, Beazley BEZG.L, M&G MNG.L and Melrose Industries MRON.L.

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

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

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> Other business headlines PRESS/GB

 (Compiled by Roshni Srivastava in Bengaluru)

 ((roshni.srivastava@thomsonreuters.com))