UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Oct 30 (updated)
30/10/2025 08:00
Adds new items, updates futures Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.26%. * SHELL: Shell SHEL.L beat third-quarter profit forecasts, helped by strong results from its gas division, and said it would maintain the pace of its share buyback programme at $3.5 billion over the next three months. * SHAWBROOK: Shawbrook is set to float on the London Stock Exchange at a valuation of about 1.92 billion pounds ($2.58 billion) after pricing its shares at 3.70 pounds, in what will be London's biggest initial public offering in two years. * VODAFONE: Vodafone VOD.L said it will acquire Skaylink for 175 million euros from private equity firm Waterland. * WPP: WPP WPP.L warned on profit after reporting a worse-than-expected 5.9% drop in third-quarter net revenue. * HALEON: Haleon HLN.L reported third-quarter organic revenue growth marginally above market estimates, helped by strong demand for its oral health products. * PERMANENT TSB: Irish challenger bank Permanent TSB PTSB.I put itself up for sale, citing a significant increase in appetite for its shares from international investors and greater consolidation in the European banking sector. * STANDARD CHARTERED: Standard Chartered (StanChart) STAN.L reported a forecast-beating 3% increase in third-quarter profit and said it expected income growth at the top end of its guidance. * PRUDENTIAL: Prudential PRU.L signalled a renewed focus on ASEAN markets, 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. * COMMODITIES: Oil prices held on to most gains from the previous session in Asian trading, while copper prices slipped and gold prices inched higher. ** EX-DIVS: Whitbread PLC WTB.L and JD Sports Fashion PLC JD.L will trade without entitlement to its latest dividend pay-out. * 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 ($1 = 0.7451 pounds) (Compiled by Tuhina and Simone Lobo in Bengaluru) ((tuhina@thomsonreuters.com))