UK Stocks-Factors to watch on November 6 (updated)
06/11/2025 08:05
Adds entries Nov 6 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.05%. * ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca AZN.L beat third-quarter earnings expectations, helped by strong sales of its cancer, heart and kidney disease drugs, prompting London's most valuable listed company to retain its full-year forecasts. * DIAGEO: Diageo has trimmed its fiscal 2026 sales and profit forecast as the company faces a slowdown in demand across North America and China. * NATIONAL GRID: National Grid NG.L reported first-half adjusted profit slightly ahead of market expectations, helped by higher UK electricity transmission revenue and increased investment across its regulated businesses. * HIKMA PHARMACEUTICALS: Hikma Pharmaceuticals lowered its medium-term core operating profit expectations due to margin pressures in its injectables unit. * VISTRY: Vistry VTYV.L reported a 11% year-on-year increase in overall sales since July 1, driven by continued momentum in the second half of the year and demand for its partner-funded projects. * HISCOX: Hiscox HSX.L posted a 5.9% increase in its group insurance contract written premiums for the first nine months of the year. * SAINSBURY'S: Sainsbury's SBRY.L raised its full-year profit outlook after delivering a first half sales and profit performance ahead of its expectations. * HARBOUR ENERGY: Harbour Energy HBR.L said a review of its UK operations has led to about 250 job cuts. * ITV: ITV ITV.L warned advertising revenue would be 9% lower in the last quarter of 2025. * BT: BT BT.L raised its interim dividend to 2.45 pence a share and said it was on track to increase free cash flow to 2 billion pounds by March 2027. * COMMODITIES: Oil prices were largely flat early on Thursday, Shanghai copper rose and Gold dipped . * EX-DIVS: HSBC holdings PLC HSBA.L and Airtel Africa PLC AAF.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 (Compiled by Tuhina in Bengaluru) ((tuhina@thomsonreuters.com))