UK Stocks-Factors to watch on March 17 (updated)
17/03/2025 08:00
Adds new items, updates futures
March 17 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Monday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.05%.
* INTEREST RATES: The Bank of England is likely to keep interest rates on hold on Thursday and stick to only gradual moves ahead as it grapples with the fallout from U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war and mixed news on Britain's economy.
* ASTRAZENECA: AstraZeneca AZN.L said it will buy biotechnology firm EsoBiotec for up to $1 billion.
* PHOENIX GROUP: Phoenix Group PHNX.L reported a better-than-expected rise in full-year adjusted operating profit and total cash, helped by growth in its pensions and savings business.
* RICARDO: Science Group SAGS.L, which holds an over 15% stake in Ricardo Plc RCDO.L, reiterated the need for board changes after the British consulting firm rejected the shareholder's demand earlier.
* ENERGEAN: A deal for Carlyle CG.O to buy up to $945 million of Energean ENOG.L assets is at risk of collapsing as some regulatory hurdles have not been cleared ahead of a deadline this week, Energean said.
* MARSH: Marsh has expanded its
Cyber Echo facility
to include London market insurers based outside Lloyd’s.
* RED TAPE: Rachel Reeves will meet regulators to unveil an "action plan" to cut red tape, while think tank Resolution Foundation said that her headroom for meeting her budget rules has probably turned into a 4.4 billion-pound ($5.7 billion) deficit.
* STEEL: Britain's steel industry has called on the government to help with electricity prices.
* THAMES WATER: Thames Water KMBWTH.UL will find out from a court this week whether a 3 billion pound ($3.88 billion) debt lifeline can proceed.
* COMMODITIES: Oil prices traded higher, gold firmed after touching a historic milestone and metals were mostly trading higher
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/
TODAY'S UK PAPERS
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(Compiled by Simone Lobo in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)
((Simone.Lobo@thomsonreuters.com; +919920570373;))