UK Stocks-Factors to watch on March 4 (updated)
04/03/2025 07:59
Updates futures, adds new items March 4 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening down on Tuesday, with futures FFIc1> down 0.57%. * SHELL: Shell SHEL.L announced its director of Integrated Gas And Upstream, Zoe Yujnovich, will step down and named insiders Cederic Cremers as president, Integrated Gas, and Peter Costello as president, Upstream. * BP: BP BP.L plans to hire two new directors to help it pivot back to oil and gas, the Financial Times reported. * Lloyd's: Lloyd’s is taking steps to ensure sensitive information related to market participants is appropriately safeguarded while CEO John Neal serves out his notice, according to sources close to the corporation. * CANAL+: Canal+ CAN.L delayed its takeover of MultiChoice MCGJ.J as regulators need more time to clear the deal, while forecasting a drop in annual revenue. * GREGGS: Greggs GRG.L said sales growth slowed further in 2025, with "challenging" weather conditions in January followed by improved trading in February. * BEAZLY: Beazley BEZG.L reported a 13% rise in annual pretax profit on growth in its property risks premiums and launched a $500 million share buyback. * SMITHS NEWS: Smiths News said its CFO Paul Baker intends to leave the firm after more than three-and-a-half years in the role. * ASHTEAD: Ashtead AHT.L missed third-quarter pretax profit and revenue expectations , pressured by weakness in the U.S. construction sector. * REACH: Reach RCH.L reported better-than-expected 2024 annual profit , helped by events like Taylor Swift's Eras tour and the European football championship, and higher yield from targeted advertising. * COMMODITIES: Oil continued to fall, gold edged down and London copper prices eased. * 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;))