UK Stocks-Factors to watch on February 26
26/02/2026 05:23
Feb 26 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.1%. * SHELL: Shell SHEL.L, the healthier JV partner in Raizen, is ready to pour more resources into a recapitalization of the distressed company, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. * HSBC: HSBC HSBA.L has started the sale process for its Singapore life insurance product manufacturing business and is hoping for the deal to be valued at over $1 billion, said three sources with knowledge of the matter. * SERAPHIM: Seraphim, which runs the Seraphim Space Investment Trust SSIT.L, has raised over $100 million for its latest venture fund, it said. * ABF: Associated British Foods ABF.L is close to name Eoin Tonge as Primark's permanent CEO, Sky News reported. * ALDI UK: Aldi's British arm has raised the pay for more than 28,000 hourly paid store staff for the second time in two months. * LSEG: Elliott Management has privately given assurances to the British government about its intentions for LSEG LSEG.L after building a stake in the group, the Financial Times reported. * COMMODITIES: Oil prices inched up, copper eased, and gold prices edged higher. * EX-DIVS: Alliance Witan ALWA.L and Unilever ULVR.L will trade without entitlement to its latest dividend pay-out on Thursday. * FTSE: Britain's FTSE 100 closed at a fresh peak on Wednesday after HSBC lifted a key earnings target and miners hit new highs. * UK CORPORATE DIARY:
| WPP | WPP.L | FY results |
| LSEG | LSEG.L | FY results |
| Rolls-Royce | RR.L | FY results |
| Ocado | OCDO.L | FY results |
| Man Group | EMG.L | FY results |
| Jupiter Fund Management | JUP.L | FY results |
| Tate & Lyle | TATE.L | Q3 trading update |
| Drax | DRX.L | FY results |
| Hikma | HIK.L | FY results |
| Howden Joinery | HWDN.L | FY results |