UK Stocks-Factors to watch on July 24 (updated)

Reckitt Benckiser

24/07/2026 07:45

Adds news items, updates futures

    July 24 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Friday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.4%.
* RECKITT: Reckitt Benckiser Group RKT.L said that it has agreed to divest its Russian hygiene business to Arnest Management LLC for an undisclosed sum.
* HSBC: HSBC HSBA.L has agreed to sell its life and health insurance business in Singapore to Allianz ALVG.DE for S$2.7 billion.
* BP: BP BP.L said that it was returning non-essential personnel to its Thunder Horse and Na Kika platforms.

    * RETAIL SALES: British retail sales volumes unexpectedly 
    rose
     by 1.0% in monthly terms in June, according to official figures published on Friday.
  
* CONSUMER CONFIDENCE: British consumer confidence showed signs of recovery in July helped by hopes about the country's new prime minister, hot weather and the soccer World Cup after a long period of uncertainty about the economy.
* OIL: Brent oil prices hovered above $100 per barrel while heading for their fourth week of gains, driven by concerns about disrupted energy flows in the Red Sea and fears of further escalation in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
* GOLD: Gold extended losses after falling 2% in the previous session, as Brent crude's move back above $100 a barrel stoked inflation concerns and strengthened the case for higher interest rates ahead of a Federal Reserve policy meeting next week.
* METALS: Copper was set to end the week higher despite coming off mid-week highs, with an escalation in the Middle East war worsening inflation fears and weighing on the macroeconomic outlook for the global economy.
* 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 Neeshita Beura and Megha Kumari in Bengaluru)
 ((Neeshita.Beura@thomsonreuters.com))