UK Stocks-Factors to watch on September 22 (updated)

M&C Saatchi

22/09/2026 08:11

Adds news items, updates futures
Sept 22 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index opened up 0.15% on Tuesday.
*KINGFISHER: Kingfisher KGF.L raised its full-year profit guidance after it reported a 9.9% increase for the first half, winning market share in the UK, Poland and Spain.
*SMITHS GROUP: Smiths Group SMIN.L reported a better-than-expected full-year operating profit and launched a process to sell its US asbestos liability. 
*M&C SAATCHI: M&C Saatchi SAA.L said that trading momentum was improving, with second-quarter revenue returning to growth. 
*STHREE: SThree STEMS.L raised its full-year pretax profit forecast on Tuesday, helped by cost cuts and continued growth in the US market.
*WHITBREAD: Corvex Management urged Whitbread WTB.L to hold a general meeting to elect the activist investor's partner James Gemmel to the Premier Inn owner's board, claiming that the firm's recent strategic review failed to address underlying challenges.
* BP: BP BP.L said its oil refinery in Whiting, Indiana, returned to normal operations after planned maintenance last week.
* BURBERRY: Burberry BRBY.L creative director Daniel Lee showed bright floral trench coats and checked short suits in his summer 2027 collection for the British luxury brand.
*UK BORROWING: Britain's government borrowed more than expected in August, pushing the deficit for the financial year so far further above official forecasts. 
* AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY: Britain's exclusion from the European Union's proposed "Made in Europe" provisions puts the British automotive industry at a competitive disadvantage and threatens its contribution to the EU's economy, a trade group said. 
* DEFENCE: UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will announce a new AI defence partnership between Britain and the United States. 
* COMMODITIES: Oil prices gained for the first time in five sessions on Tuesday, gold struggled for momentum, and copper prices rose. 

* 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 Roshni Srivastava in Bengaluru)
 ((roshni.srivastava@thomsoneuters.com))