UK Stocks-Factors to watch on April 29 (updated)

Hipgnosis Songs Fund

29/04/2024 07:42

(Adds and updates news item, futures)
       April 29 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100  .FTSE  index is
seen opening higher on Monday, with futures  FFIc1  up 0.51%.

    * ANGLO AMERICAN: BHP Group  BHP.AX  is considering making
an improved offer for Anglo American  AAL.L  after its $39
billion initial proposal was rejected by the London-listed
miner, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
    * HIPGNOSIS: Blackstone  BX.N  has agreed to acquire
Hipgnosis Songs Fund  SONG.L  for about $1.57 billion, after the
private equity giant outbid rival suitor Concord in the takeover
battle for the music owner of artists such as Shakira and Red
Hot Chili Peppers.
        * PETROFAC: Petrofac  PFC.L  said that a group of senior
secured noteholders made a 
    proposal
     to provide further credit of up to $300 million to the
oilfield services provider to help secure performance guarantees
on some existing contracts.
  
    * IAG: EU antitrust regulators on Friday warned that British
Airways owner IAG's  ICAG.L  bid to secure full control of Air
Europa may reduce competition and lead to price increases.
    * MOTOR INSURANCE: The cost of car insurance in the UK rose
1% in the first quarter, a survey showed, indicating an easing
in the rise of premium seen last year. 
    * OIL: Oil prices fell in early Asian trading erasing gains
from Friday as Israel-Hamas peace talks in Cairo eased fears of
a wider conflict in the Middle East and U.S. inflation data
further dimmed the prospects of interest rate cuts anytime soon.
    * METALS: Prices of copper opened the week higher driven by
dwindling raw material supply and investors' focus on a
potential BHP Group-Anglo American deal that would make the
world's largest copper miner.


    * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please
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 (Reporting by Prerna Bedi in Bengaluru)
 ((Prerna.Bedi@thomsonreuters.com; +91 98052 24616;))