UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Jan 2 (updated)
02/01/2025 07:34
(Adds new items, updates futures)
Jan 2 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is
seen opening higher on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.1%.
* LIDL UK: The British arm of German retailer Lidl reported
a 7% rise in sales over the four-week period before Christmas.
* UK HOUSE PRICES: British house prices surged again in
December as the property market upswing continued, surprising
economists who had expected to see a slowdown in price growth,
mortgage lender Nationwide said on Thursday.
* RIO TINTO: Miner Rio Tinto RIO.L RIO.AX said a deck
fitter on board its bulk carrier travelling from China to
Western Australia was reported missing last week and the
Philippine Coast Guard was leading a search and rescue
operation.
* OIL: Oil prices nudged higher, the first day of trade for
2025, as investors returning from holidays cautiously eyed a
recovery in China's economy and fuel demand following a pledge
by President Xi Jinping to promote growth.
* METALS: Most base metals rose on Thursday, the first
trading session of 2025, buoyed by expectations of more
proactive Chinese policies to promote growth, although gains
were capped by a stronger U.S. dollar.
* GOLD: Gold prices inched higher, continuing its momentum
from 2024, while traders sought more clarity on the U.S. Federal
Reserve's interest rate trajectory and President-elect Donald
Trump's policies.
* EX-DIVS: SSE SSE.L , F&C Investment Trust FCIT.L and
Auto Trader Group AUTOA.L will trade without entitlement to
its latest dividend pay-out on Thursday.
* 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
(Reporting by Yamini Kalia and DhanushVignesh Babu in
Bengaluru)
((Yamini.Kalia@thomsonreuters.com;))