UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Oct 18
18/10/2024 05:54
Oct 18 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is
seen opening lower on Friday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.40%.
* BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO: British American Tobacco
BATS.L will launch a version of its Velo nicotine pouches
using synthetic nicotine in the United States, David Waterfield,
president of the company's U.S. subsidiary Reynolds American,
said on Wednesday.
* BP: BP BP.L is considering selling a minority stake in
its offshore wind business, according to four sources with
knowledge of the matter, the latest effort by CEO Murray
Auchincloss to scale back the energy company's focus on
renewables.
* MOTHERCARE: Mothercare MTC.L formed a joint venture with
Reliance Brands Holding UK, strengthening its presence in the
South Asian region, and said it refinanced its existing debt
facilities with Gordon Brothers.
* OIL: Crude oil futures steadied on Friday after strong
U.S. retail sales data, but Chinese economic indicators remained
mixed and prices were headed for their biggest weekly loss in
more than a month on concerns about demand.
* GOLD: Gold breached the $2,700-per-ounce level on Friday
for the first time ever, as U.S. election jitters and simmering
Middle East tensions boosted safe-haven demand, while a looser
monetary policy environment also added fuel to the rally.
* METALS: Copper prices in London rose on Friday, as data
showing weak economic growth in top consumer China emphasized
the need for more policy support.
* The UK's FTSE 100 closed at a near five-month high on
Thursday, as pest control group Rentokil announced an overhaul
of its struggling North America business, while investors
continued to bet on further policy easing by the Bank of England
(BoE).
* 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
(Reporting by Yamini Kalia in Bengaluru)
((Yamini.Kalia@thomsonreuters.com;))