UK Stocks-Factors to watch on April 29
29/04/2026 06:19
April 29 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Wednesday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.16%. * SHELL: A Monday night fire at Shell's SHEL.L Norco, Louisiana, refining and chemical plant complex broke out on an olefins unit in the chemical plant, people familiar with plant operations said on Tuesday. * Prudential: Prudential PRU.L reported a nearly 10% rise in first-quarter new business profit on Wednesday, while warning that energy-driven inflation poses risks to its smaller South Asian businesses and could dampen consumer sentiment. * HSBC: HSBC HSBA.L on Wednesday named Gautam Anand to head its global India private banking division as the lender looks to strengthen cross-border services for wealthy clients with links to India. * RAC: British driving services group RAC has pushed back its timeline for an initial public offering in London to final months of this year, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. * ECONOMY: British finance minister Rachel Reeves said on Tuesday the government needs to make targeted interventions to shield the economy from the impact of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran without a lasting effect on interest rates. * COMMODITIES: Oil prices eased on Wednesday, while gold was largely steady in choppy trade, and Shanghai nickel extended gains. * FTSE: UK's FTSE 100 edged higher on Tuesday, snapping a six-day losing streak, as energy stocks got a boost from BP's stronger-than-expected first-quarter profit. * UK CORPORATE DIARY:
| AstraZeneca | AZN.L | Q1 results |
| GSK | GSK.L | Q1 results |
| Haleon | HLN.L | Q1 trading update |
| Lloyds | LLOY.L | Q1 results |
| Aston Martin | AML.L | Q1 trading update |
| Halfords | HFD.L | FY trading update |
| St. James's Place | SJP.L | Q1 update |
| JET2 PLC | JET2.L | FY trading update |
| Melrose | MRON.L | Q1 trading update |