UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Oct-30
30/10/2025 05:34
Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.33%. *OFGEM: Britain's energy regulator Ofgem announced plans on Thursday to tackle 4.4 billion pounds ($6 billion) of debt built up by customers, which is driving up bills for millions of households. *STANDARD CHARTERED: Standard Chartered STAN.L (StanChart) reported on Thursday a forecast-beating 3% increase in third-quarter profit and said it expected income growth at the top end of its guidance as strong wealth, global banking and markets businesses boosted revenue. *PRUDENTIAL: Prudential PRU.L signaled a renewed focus on ASEAN markets on Thursday, continuing efforts to boost its network of agents, while posting a near 13% rise in quarterly new business profit on strength in Hong Kong and mainland China regions. *HEATHROW: Heathrow Airport's website went back online after Britain's largest airport said on Wednesday that it was aware of issues affecting the website and had referred the matter to its technology team. *UK BUDGET: Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday declined to commit to a previous pledge not to raise taxes on working people ahead of the budget next month, saying upcoming forecasts would show the economy was in a worse state than thought. *COMMODITIES: Oil prices held on to most gains from the previous session in Asian trading while copper prices slipped and gold prices inched higher on Thursday. *FTSE 100: The UK's benchmark index closed at a new high on Wednesday, marking its fifth consecutive record-breaking session, primarily driven by strong earnings forecasts from drugmaker GSKGSK.L and retailer Next. ** EX-DIVS: Whitbread PLC WTB.L and JD Sports Fashion PLC JD.L will trade without entitlement to its latest dividend pay-out. * UK CORPORATE DIARY:
| WPP | WPP.L | Q3 trading update |
| Shell | SHEL.L | Q3 results |
| Haleon | HLN.L | Q3 trading update |