UK Stocks-Factors to watch on August 7 (updated)

Goodwin

07/08/2026 07:57

Adds news items, updates futures
Aug 7 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening flat on Friday.
* GENEL ENERGY: Genel Energy GENL.L rejected DNO's DNO.OL £202 million ($271.8 million) takeover proposal, the Norwegian oil firm said.
* JD SPORTS: JD Sports JD.L said former IKEA IKEA.UL CEO Peter Agnefjäll has been appointed as chair effective September 1, succeeding Darren Shapland, who served on an interim basis.
* PHAROS ENERGY: Ratio Petroleum Energy RTPTp.TA raised its takeover bid for Pharos Energy PHARP.L to about £146.4 million ($196.97 million), outbidding rival oil producer Serica Energy SQZ.L and winning back the board's recommendation.
* HOUSE PRICES: Britain's housing market slowed in July in both monthly and annual price rise terms as higher borrowing costs and uncertainty caused by the Iran war overshadowed the market, mortgage lender Lloyds said on Friday.
* GOODWIN: Goodwin GDWN.L is in talks to sell its defence business, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
* OIL: Oil extended gains amid further concerns around the opening of the Strait of Hormuz as Iran, working with Oman, suggested banning vessels deemed hostile from the strait and heavily fining those which violated the proposed rules.
* GOLD: Gold rose more than 1% and was set for its biggest weekly gain since January, helped by weaker oil prices, while investors awaited key U.S. nonfarm payrolls data for clues on the interest rate outlook.
* METALS: Copper rose to linger near a six-month high, after the Democratic Republic of Congo's ban on copper and cobalt concentrate exports raised supply concerns.

* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/
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 (Compiled by Megha Kumari in Bengaluru)
 ((Megha.Kumari@thomsonreuters.com;))