UK Stocks-Factors to watch on March 4 (updated)

Barratt Redrow

04/03/2026 07:41

Adds new items, updates futures

March 4 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Wednesday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.1%.

* VISTRY: Vistry VTYV.L said that Chief Executive and Chair Greg Fitzgerald intends to step down, and that the roles will be separated after his retirement.

* BEAZLEY: Beazley BEZG.L reported a 19% drop in annual pre-tax profit, amid a softening insurance rating environment and weak growth in its cyber insurance business.

* METRO BANK: Metro Bank MTRO.L forecast its return on tangible equity to more than double from current levels over the next 6 months.

* QUILTER: Quilter QLT.L announced a 100 million-pound share buyback and beat annual pretax profit expectations, as clients increasingly sought financial advice following the UK budget.

* BARRATT REDROW: Barratt Redrow BTRW.L said CEO David Thomas will retire after 11 years at the helm of the UK's largest homebuilder and that Dean Banks will be its next chief executive.

* SHELL: Talks to rescue troubled sugar and ethanol maker Raizen RAIZ4.SA have collapsed after co-owners Cosan CSAN3.SA and Shell SHEL.L failed to agree to a plan to raise capital, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

* LOVEHOLIDAYS: Loveholidays is preparing to delay its London Stock Exchange flotation amid market turmoil and travel chaos caused by Iran's retaliation after U.S. and Israeli strikes, the Financial Times reported.

* COMMODITIES: Oil prices rose 3%, aluminium prices extended gains and gold advanced over 1% due to the Middle East conflict.

* 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 Neeshita Beura in Bengaluru)

 ((Neeshita.Beura@thomsonreuters.com))