UK Stocks-Factors to watch on April 22 (updated)
22/04/2026 07:58
Adds news items, updates futures April 22 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Wednesday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.14%. * ABERDEEN: Aberdeen ABDN.L posted net outflows of 2.9 billion pounds ($3.92 billion) for the first quarter, in line with peers. * RECKITT: Reckitt RKT.L reported a 1.3% growth in like-for-like net revenue for its core business on Wednesday, missing market expectations. * CRODA: Croda International CRDA.L said it is raising prices to offset input cost inflation since the start of the Middle East conflict. * JD SPORTS: JD Sports Fashion JD.L said its chairman, Andrew Higginson, will step down from the role in July. * BUNZL: Bunzl BNZL.L posted a 2% rise in first-quarter underlying revenue. * QUILTER: Quilter QLT.L said it recorded first‑quarter inflows of 3.1 billion pounds ($4.19 billion) driven by steady demand from its wealthy clients and the recent recovery in markets. * FERREXPO: Ferrexpo FXPO.L said it was pursuing a potential equity raise of at least $100 million to stave off insolvency. * VODAFONE: Vodafone VOD.L said it would offer its small business customers advanced cybersecurity and agentic AI through its $1 billion strategic tie-up with Google Cloud. * HSBC: HSBC HSBA.L is hiring JPMorgan executive director James Willis to lead its global precious metals sales, four sources told Reuters. * CLOUD: Microsoft MSFT.O must face a mass lawsuit alleging it overcharged thousands of British businesses to use Windows Server software on cloud computing services provided by Amazon, Google and Alibaba, a London tribunal ruled. * ENERGY: Britain will overhaul energy regulator Ofgem, the government said, granting it new powers to enforce consumer law and ban executive bonuses. * PAY: British employers offered slightly higher pay deals in the first quarter of 2026 but early signs of softness emerged in April, a survey showed. * INFLATION: British consumer price inflation rose to an annual rate of 3.3% in March from 3.0% in February, according to official figures published. * BOOTS: The owners of British pharmacy chain Boots are working with consultants on a possible strategy overhaul in preparation for a potential London stock market listing as soon as 2027, people familiar with the plans said. * COMMODITIES: Oil prices were largely flat on Wednesday, while gold prices rose , and copper was little changed. * 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 Roshni Srivastava in Bengaluru) ((roshni.srivastava@thomsonreuters.com))