UK Stocks-Factors to watch on March 31

Princes

31/03/2026 06:17

Macrh 31 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Tuesday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.13%.

* UNILEVER: Unilever ULVR.L has implemented a global hiring freeze "at all levels" that will last at least three months, according to a memo seen by Reuters. The group is also in advanced talks to combine its food business McCormick MKC.N, in a deal that includes a cash component of around $16 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported.

* EDINBURGH WORLDWIDE INVESTMENT TRUST: Boaz Weinstein's Saba Capital announced on Monday a liquidity proposal for Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust EWI.L and said it believes its proposal is superior to the company's proposed tender offer.

* MOTOR FINANCE: The motor finance industry must pay around 9.1 billion pounds ($12 billion) to compensate UK motorists for unfair vehicle loans under the market regulator's trimmed, final bill for one of Britain's costliest financial mis-selling scandals.

* SHOP PRICE INFLATION: British store chains raised their prices a bit more quickly this month and the Iran war risks further pushing up inflation, a retail industry group said.

* COMMODITIES: Oil prices reversed course in Asian trading on Tuesday, gold prices rose but were poised for their worst month in more than 17 years, and aluminium extended its gains.

* FTSE: London's FTSE 100 closed more than 1% higher on Monday, buoyed by mining and energy stocks as commodity prices continued to rise.

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

Raspberry Pi
RPI.L
FY results
AG Barr
BAG.L
FY results
Princes Group
PRN.L
FY results
Hilton Foods
HFG.L
FY results

* 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))