UK Stocks-Factors to watch on August 15
15/08/2025 06:10
Aug 15 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Friday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.5%. * SHEIN: Shein's British business made 2.05 billion pounds ($2.77 billion) in sales in 2024, a 32.3% increase from the previous year, a filing by the online fast-fashion retailer showed early on Friday. * SHELL: Shell SHEL.L said on Thursday that a planned overhaul on the gasoline-producing unit at its 231,827 barrel-per-day Norco, Louisiana, refinery would begin on Friday, confirming a Reuters report. * S4 CAPITAL: London-based marketing agency MSQ Partners on Thursday ruled out a potential merger with Martin Sorrell's advertising group S4 Capital SFOR.L. * LIDL UK: The British arm of German discount supermarket Lidl is to give its 28,000 hourly paid workers a fifth pay rise in two years, matching the increased level offered by rival Aldi, it said on Friday. * COMMODITIES: Oil prices nudged higher to fresh one-week highs, gold prices were headed for a weekly fall, and copper prices are set to end the week higher on Friday. * FTSE: Britain's FTSE 100 hit a record closing high on Thursday, propelled by defence and financial sector gains, while investors assessed key economic data. * 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 Nithyashree R B in Bengaluru) ((NithyashreeRB@thomsonreuters.com;))