UK Stocks-UK Factors to watch on June 18 (updated)
18/06/2025 07:46
Adds new items, updates futures June 18 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Wednesday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.1%. * OCADO: British online supermarket and technology firm Ocado OCDO.L has expanded its partnership with retailer Bon Preu in Catalonia to build a new customer fulfilment centre for its offerings in the region. * AO WORLD: British electronics retailer AO World AO.L reported a 27% rise in annual profit on Wednesday, helped by robust sales from its consumer-facing business and cost-saving efficiencies. * INFLATION: British inflation slowed as expected in May, pulled down by air fares that leapt in April and the correction of a tax data error, although food prices shot up at the fastest rate in more than a year. * UNILEVER: Unilever ULVR.L has named its preferred candidate to lead the group's soon-to-be listed ice cream division, proposing executive Peter ter Kulve, who has previously faced criticism from the board of its Ben & Jerry's business. * ROLLS-ROYCE: Rolls-Royce RR.L CEO Tufan Erginbilgic said on Tuesday it was "even more true" that the British jet engine maker would like to re-enter the narrow-body airplane market, preferably through a partnership. * ROLLS-ROYCE: Startup Riyadh Air has signed a deal with Rolls-Royce RR.L for 116 Trent XWB-97 engines that will power its Airbus AIR.PA large wide-body fleet, the Saudi airline said on Tuesday. * ECONOMY: Growth this year is now forecast to be 1.2%, the Confederation of British Industry said, lower than the 1.6% it predicted in December. * COMMODITIES: Oil prices rose in Asian trade, London base metal prices inched up, and gold prices inched higher on Wednesday. * 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 Nithyashree R B in Bengaluru) ((NithyashreeRB@thomsonreuters.com;))