UK Stocks-Factors to watch on July 8

Marks and Spencer

08/07/2026 06:11

    July 8 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Wednesday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.1%. 

* ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca AZN.L will license a subsidiary of Sino Biopharmaceutical's 1177.HK experimental chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) drug TQC3721 and pay $200 million upfront.
* MARKS & SPENCER: Marks & Spencer MKS.L will this year detail plans to increase returns to shareholders in years ahead, its finance chief said.
* POLITICS: Britain's governing Labour Party said it would not contest the Clacton by-election triggered by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's decision to resign and seek re-election.
* DEFENCE: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will unveil a $50 billion NATO initiative to develop deep precision strike weapons.
* JOBS: Britain's jobs market downturn eased slightly last month, according to a survey of recruitment companies that showed an upturn in temporary hiring and starting salaries.
* OIL: Oil prices gained more than 2% after U.S. airstrikes on Iran and renewed sanctions heightened concerns over Middle East supply disruptions.
* GOLD: Gold prices swung between gains and losses as concerns around inflation and higher interest rates rose after fresh U.S. strikes on Iran lifted oil and the dollar ahead of the release of the Federal Reserve's June meeting minutes.
* METALS: Aluminium prices gained, as supply concerns increased following new strains in the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire.
*  The UK's FTSE 100 index inched up on Tuesday, as gains in energy stocks following Shell's upbeat second-quarter guidance offset weakness in precious metals miners.

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:  
Jet2
JET2.L 
FY results
Unite
UTG.L 
Trading statement
Pennon
PNN.L 
AGM

* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
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 (Compiled by Megha Kumari in Bengaluru)
 ((Megha.Kumari@thomsonreuters.com;))