UK Stocks-Factors to watch on October 17

Asos

17/10/2025 06:25

Oct 17 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Friday, with futuresFFIc1 down 0.96%.

* ASOS: German tax authorities are pursuing ASOS ASOS.L for unpaid customs duties in a legal dispute that is adding to the struggles of the British fast-fashion retailer, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing sources.

* GSK: The UK's drugs cost-effectiveness watchdog has given a positive recommendation for ViiV Healthcare's HIV drug, enabling access to the preventive medicine via the state health system in England and Wales, the GSK GSK.L unit said on Friday.

* SMITHS GROUP: Smiths Group SMIN.L said on Thursday it will sell its interconnect unit to U.S. electronic components maker Molex Electronic in a deal valued at 1.3 billion pounds ($1.75 billion), after facing investor pressure to break up the conglomerate.

* CONCIERGE SERVICE: Britain's government said on Friday it has launched what it hopes will be one-stop, concierge service to make it easier for financial services firms to invest in the country.

* PENSION FUNDS: British pension funds should club together on major investment projects to pool resources and help attract foreign capital, the Lord Mayor of London said on Thursday, renewing his calls for funds to invest more in unlisted assets.

* COMMODITIES: Oil prices edged lower in early trade on Friday, gold notched a new high above $4,300 an ounce and was poised for its best week in five years, and Shanghai copper dropped as risks from trade tensions remained a focus for investors.

* FTSE: The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed up 0.12% on Thursday. London stocks were mixed as investors assessed an assorted bag of corporate updates and remained cautious ahead of next week's UK inflation data amid ongoing fiscal concerns.

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

SIG plc
SHI.L
Q3 trading update

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

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 (Compiled by Ankita Bora in Bengaluru)

 ((Ankita.Bora@thomsonreuters.com))