UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Jan 17 (updated)
17/01/2025 07:41
(Adds new items, updates futures)
Jan 17 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is
seen opening higher on Friday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.9%.
* SMITHS GROUP: U.S. activist investor Engine Capital, which
owns a roughly 2% stake in Smiths Group SMIN.L , is calling for
the British engineering firm to sell the company or parts of it.
* DFS FURNITURE: British retailer DFS Furniture DFSD.L
said it expects to nearly double its profit for the half-year
ended Dec. 29, 2024, supported by cost-saving actions and
improved order intakes.
* EVOKE: British betting and gaming firm Evoke Plc
EVOK.L forecast its 2024 core profit at the high end of its
outlook range and "well ahead" of the market view, helped by
growth in online business and operator-friendly sports results
in the fourth quarter.
* MCBRIDE: British cleaning products maker McBride
MCB.L said it expects first-half adjusted operating profit to
be about 8% ahead of last year, driven by higher manufacturing
volumes from new fast-moving consumer goods client contracts.
* UK RETAIL SALES: British retail sales fell unexpectedly in
December, according to official data that added to a run of
downbeat economic indicators that are likely to further boost
expectations for a Bank of England interest rate cut next month.
* GLENCORE: Glencore GLEN.L approached Rio Tinto RIO.AX
RIO.L late last year about combining the two big copper
producers but the discussions are no longer active, a person
familiar with the matter said.
* SCHRODERS: Schroders SDR.L is planning to lay off about
3% of its workforce, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing
a person familiar with the matter.
* OIL: Oil prices climbed, heading for a fourth weekly gain.
* GOLD: Gold held firm near a five-week high.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please
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(Reporting by Raechel Thankam Job and DhanushVignesh Babu)
((RaechelThankam.Job@thomsonreuters.com;))