UK Stocks-Factors to watch on March 12
12/03/2025 05:03
March 12 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Wednesday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.39%. * RIO TINTO: The world's biggest iron ore producer Rio Tinto RIO.AX, RIO.L is offering $9 billion in U.S. investment-grade bonds as the miner seeks funding for its recently-closed buyout of Arcadium Lithium LTM.AX, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday. * DIRECT LINE GROUP: Shareholders in Direct Line Group DLGD.L have voted in favour of its proposed takeover by larger rival Aviva AV.L, a deal which values the London-listed personal line carrier at 3.7 billion pounds ($4.79 billion) and is set to close in mid-2025. * FCA: Britain's Payments System Regulator will be abolished and its remit absorbed by another financial regulator, the government said. * ROSEBANK: British investment firm Rosebank Industries ROSE.L said it was withdrawing its bid to buy U.S.-based Electrical Components International, which makes wire harnesses, citing political and equity markets volatility. * ELECTRICITY: The National Energy System Operator announced that Britain's auction to secure sufficient electricity capacity for 2028/29 has cleared at 60 pounds per kilowatt (kW) per year. * OIL: Oil prices edged up, buoyed by a weaker dollar, but mounting fears of a U.S. economic slowdown and the impact of tariffs on global economic growth capped gains. * GOLD: Gold held steady ahead of a key U.S. inflation data that could help gauge the Federal Reserve's interest rate path amid trade tensions and economic slowdown fears, while attention was also on a potential ceasefire deal in Ukraine. * The UK blue-chip index .FTSE fell 1.2%on Tuesday notching its lowest closing level since January 16. * UK CORPORATE DIARY:
| Legal& General Group PLC | LGEN.L | Full Year Earnings Release |
| Balfour Beatty PLC | BALF.L | Full Year Earnings Release |
| Hikma Pharmaceuticals | HIK.L | Full Year Earnings Release |
| Hochschild Mining PLC | HOCM.L | Full Year Earnings Release |