UK Stocks-Factors to watch on May 8

Petershill Partners

08/05/2025 05:53

May 8 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Thursday, with futuresFFIc1 up 0.72%.

* INTEREST RATES: The Bank of England is poised to extend its slow run of interest rate cuts.

* RIO TINTO: A U.S. federal judge said he will rule by May 14 on whether Rio Tinto RIO.L and BHP BHP.AX can build a major copper mine opposed by Native Americans in Arizona.

* TRADE: U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to announce a trade deal between the United States and Britain, the New York Times reported citing people familiar with the plans.

* FLUTTER: Flutter FLTRF.L cut its forecast for annual U.S. profit growth.

* BRITISH STEEL: British Steel said it would increase hiring following the British government's operational seizure of the group.

* HOUSING: Britain's housing market slowed last month after the end of a temporary tax break, an industry survey showed.

* COMMODITIES: Oil prices steadied over trade talks and gold climbed on Federal Reserve's inflation warnings, while metal prices in London showed mixed movements.

* EX-DIVS: HSBC Holdings HSBA.L and RELX REL.L will trade without entitlement to its latest dividend pay-out on Thursday.

* The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed down 0.4% on Wednesday as losses in healthcare and real estate shares offset positive trade talk developments.

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

Next
NXT.L
Q1 Trading Update
IHG
IHG.L
Q1 Trading Update
S4 Capital
SFOR.L
Q1 Trading Update
Airtel Africa
AAF.L
Full Year Earnings Release
Mondi
MNDI.L
Q1 Trading Update
Rathbones
RAT.L
Q1 Trading Update
Harbour Energy
HBR.L
Q1 Trading Update

* 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 Simone Lobo in Bengaluru)

 ((Simone.Lobo@thomsonreuters.com; +919920570373;))