UK Stocks-Factors to watch on January 19 (updated)
19/01/2026 07:43
Adds new items, updates futures Jan 19 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Monday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.6%. * WH SMITH: WH Smith SMWH.L named ex-Balfour Beatty chief Leo Quinn as its executive chairman, replacing Annette Court in a leadership shakeup aimed at revitalising the travel retailer and restoring investor confidence. * AUCTION TECHNOLOGY: Auction Technology ATG.L turned down the most recent bid from FitzWalter Capital that values the company at 491 million pounds ($657.84 million), saying the offer highly undervalues the firm and its future prospects. * WORKSPACE GROUP: Workspace Group WKP.L said that its CFO , Lawrence Hutchings, is stepping down and would be replaced by The Office Group's co-founder, Charlie Green. * SHELL: Shell SHEL.L and Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi Corp 8058.T are exploring sale options for their respective stakes in the C$40 billion ($28.8 billion) LNG Canada project, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. * HOME PRICES: Asking prices for British homes rose by the most on record for the Christmas and New Year period after a fall linked to uncertainty around finance minister Rachel Reeves' budget, Rightmove RMV.L said. * OIL: Oil prices were up slightly as Iran's deadly crackdown on protests quelled civil unrest, narrowing chances for a U.S. attack on the major Middle Eastern producer that could disrupt supplies. * METALS: Shanghai copper logged a third consecutive session of losses as profit-taking and signs of subdued demand in China weighed on the market. * GOLD: Gold prices climbed to fresh peaks as investors poured into safe-haven assets after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose extra tariffs on European countries over the control of Greenland. * 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 in Bengaluru) ((Neeshita.Beura@thomsonreuters.com))