UK Stocks-Factors to watch on May 20 (updated)
20/05/2026 08:04
Adds news items May 20 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index opened down 0.05% on Wednesday. * ENERGEAN: Energean ENOG.L cut its 2026 production forecast and dividend, after a 41-day shutdown of its Israeli operations hit first-quarter results. * British Land: British Land Company BLBD.L reported annual profit above market estimates, bolstered by robust demand for office spaces from a booming AI and technology industry. * EXPERIAN: Experian EXPN.L announced a $1 billion share buyback programme and forecast organic revenue growth of 6% to 8% for fiscal 2027, citing growth across all its markets. * Marks & Spencer: Marks & Spencer MKS.L forecast a return to profit growth this year after it slumped 24% in 2025/26, hit by a disruptive cyberattack that dented sales and margins. * HSBC: HSBC HSBA.L Chief Executive Georges Elhedery said AI would destroy and create certain jobs in the financial industry, and the bank was retraining its workforce to meet the challenge. * INFLATION: British inflation cooled by more than expected in April but the slowdown did little to mask a tough outlook for households as the Iran war pushes future energy costs sharply higher. * FUEL: Britain will allow imports of diesel and jet fuel refined abroad from Russian crude under a sanctions carve-out, easing restrictions as fuel costs surge and add to pressure on airlines and households. * PRICE GOUGING: Britain will give its competition watchdog stronger powers to crack down on companies that it determines have unfairly raised prices during crises, finance minister Rachel Reeves said. * SUPERMARKET: Britain's finance ministry is pressuring major supermarket groups to introduce voluntary price caps on key products, such as eggs, bread and milk, in return for easing some regulations, according to two people with knowledge of the situation. * PAY SETTLEMENTS: British employers lowered their pay deals in the three months to April back to levels last seen in mid-2025, as per Brightmine. * CLIMATE RISKS: Britain needs to invest 11 billion pounds ($14.75 billion) annually to make its homes and public buildings more resilient to the escalating threats of drought, flooding and extreme heat waves, according to a report. * COMMODITIES: Oil prices were down about 1%, while gold prices eased, and copper declined to a more-than-one-week low. * 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@thomsonreuters.com))