UK Stocks-Factors to watch on July 29 (updated)

Reckitt Benckiser

29/07/2026 07:55

Adds news items, updates futures
July 29 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Wednesday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.2%. 

* RECKITT: Dettol maker Reckitt RKT.L beat second-quarter sales growth estimates and reaffirmed its annual forecast as strong demand in China, India and other emerging markets helped offset weakness in Europe and disruption linked to the Iran war.
* ASTON MARTIN: Aston Martin's AML.L second-quarter loss narrowed from year ago, backed by solid sales of its Valhalla plug-in hybrid supercar and strict cost discipline.
* GREGGS: Greggs GRG.L reported a 20% rise in first-half profit, reflecting growth in its grocery business.
* ST. JAMES'S PLACE: St. James's Place SJP.L said its first-half inflows fell about 29%, as volatile markets and economic uncertainty hurt investor sentiment.
* GLENCORE: Glencore GLEN.L said first-half copper production rose 15% on higher grades at key operations.
* ABERDEEN GROUP: Aberdeen ABDN.L posted net outflows of £3 billion ($4 billion) in the first half of the year, a period when analysts had expected £800 million of inflows.
* STANDARD CHARTERED: Standard Chartered's STAN.L push for fee income powered a forecast-beating first-half profit, with the bank lifting its full-year income target after wealth.
* DATA CENTRES: Ofgem launched a consultation on proposals to tighten electricity grid-connection requirements for data centre projects.
* INFLATION: The British public's expectations for future inflation continued to fall in July.
* ECONOMY: Britain's economy has been more resilient than anticipated after the energy price shock caused by the Iran war, but inflation will stay above the Bank of England's target until 2029.
* BANKS: The Bank of England is examining banks' exposure to Asian equities through prime brokerage businesses in London, the Financial Times reported.
* COMMODITIES: Oil prices rose, gold prices were largely steady, while copper ticked lower on Wednesday.
* 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 Megha Kumari in Bengaluru)
 ((Megha.Kumari@thomsonreuters.com))