UK Stocks-Factors to watch on November 5 (updated)

Hikma Pharmaceuticals

Today 08:01

Updates futures, adds news
Nov 5 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 up 1.2%. 
     
* BP: BP BP.L said it has raised about $1.06 billion from selling a 5% stake in Norwegian oil and gas company Aker BP AKRBP.OL.
* HIKMA: Hikma Pharmaceuticals HIK.L narrowed its annual profit forecast range closer to the higher end.
* M&G: British insurer and money manager M&G MNG.L on Thursday posted £1.8 billion ($2.43 billion) in net inflows from open business in the third quarter. 
* VISTRY: British homebuilder Vistry VTYV.L said it had started reducing headcount as part of its ongoing turnaround plan.
* BT Group: Britain's BT Group BT.L said it was on track to deliver £2 billion of free cash flow this year.
* ASOS: British fashion retailer ASOS ASOS.L forecast annual adjusted core profit above market expectations.
* OFGEM: Britain's energy market regulator Ofgem said it had launched a probe into whether ScottishPower Energy Retail complied with rules on treating customers fairly and supporting vulnerable households.
* HARBOUR ENERGY: Harbour Energy HBR.L upgraded its 2026 production and free cash flow outlook for the third time this year on Thursday, and announced a further $150 million share buyback. 
* NEXT: British clothing retailer Next NXT.L reported a better-than-expected 8.1% rise in full-price sales for its third quarter to October 31.
* CRODA: British specialty chemicals maker Croda International CRDA.L reported a third-quarter sales growth of 6.6%. 
* ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca AZN.L made an offer of about $10 billion to acquire obesity drugmaker Rhythm Pharmaceuticals RYTM.O, according to three people familiar with the matter.
* ECB: European Union leaders aim to appoint a successor to European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, who is stepping down early, at their December 17 to 18 summit, a senior euro zone official said.  
* UK'S ELECTRIC CAR: UK battery electric vehicle registrations grew by roughly 54% in October from a year earlier, overtaking hybrid and petrol models and taking nearly a 32% market share, industry data showed.  
* COMMODITIES: Oil prices fell, gold prices climbed, copper gave up earlier gains on Thursday. 
* EX-DIVS: Tritax Bigbox Reit Holding BBOXT.L and HSBC Holdings PLC HSBA.L will trade without entitlement to its latest dividend pay-out on Thursday. 
   
* 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 Tuhina in Bengaluru)
 ((tuhina@thomsonreuters.com))