UK Stocks-Factors to watch on May 26
26/05/2026 06:04
May 26 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Tuesday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.17%. * BP: BP BP.L said its Whiting refinery returned to the bargaining table with the United Steelworkers Local 7-1 bargaining committee and presented a revised proposal intended to move the parties closer to an agreement. * STARTUPS: The UK could join a European Union equity investment fund for startups worth 4 billion euros this year, the EU Commissioner for startups Ekaterina Zaharieva told the Financial Times. * OIL: Brent crude futures rose over 2% in Asian trade after the U.S. military carried out strikes in Iran, keeping markets on edge as a deal to end the war and open up the Strait of Hormuz remained elusive. * METALS: London copper held steady as support from a weaker dollar was offset by higher oil prices after the latest U.S. strikes on Iran dampened hopes of a swift resolution to the Middle East conflict. * GOLD: Gold fell as fresh U.S. attacks in Iran pushed oil prices higher, fuelling concerns around inflation and higher-for-longer interest rates. * FTSE: UK's blue-chip FTSE 100 index ended a four-week losing streak after data released this week weakened expectations of a Bank of England rate hike, giving relief to investors unsettled by political uncertainty. * UK CORPORATE DIARY:
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