UK Stocks-Factors to watch on March 13 (updated)

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13/03/2026 07:39

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March 13 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Friday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.35%.

* BERKELEY: Berkeley BKGH.L reaffirmed its annual profit guidance but cautioned that the Middle East conflict is weighing heavily on risk sentiment.

* BP: Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko vowed that sweeping changes were ahead, declaring a BP BP.L gas contract unfair.

* HSBC: Just days before the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, HSBC's HSBA.L CEO Georges Elhedery said the Asia-Middle East corridor was becoming "a defining axis of global growth".

* GLENCORE: Glencore GLEN.L CEO Gary Nagle is hoping a recent surge in coal prices will help bring Rio Tinto RIO.L back to the table for a fresh attempt at creating the world's biggest mining company, three investors said, after meeting with leaders of both companies in Australia this week.

* RIO TINTO: An employee of a contracted company died on Thursday following an incident at Rio Tinto's RIO.AX, RIO.L Kennecott mine in Utah.

* SHELL: Shell-led SHEL.L LNG Canada says an unplanned flaring event occurred yesterday and is likely to continue for one week.

* BP: The U.S. USW union members voted to overwhelmingly reject what BP BP.L called its "last, best, and final" contract proposal to those working at its Whiting refinery in Indiana.

        * ECONOMY: Britain's economy stagnated unexpectedly in January and expanded weakly in preceding months, according to official data.

* COMMODITIES: Oil prices headed for weekly gains, while gold prices were on track for a second consecutive weekly drop, and aluminium eased as rising oil prices remained a focus and continued to fuel inflation concerns.

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

TODAY'S UK PAPERS
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 (Compiled by Roshni Srivastava in Bengaluru)

 ((roshni.srivastava@thomsonreuters.com)) ))