UK Stocks-Factors to watch on April 26
26/04/2024 05:23
April 26 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen
opening higher on Friday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.7%.
* ANGLO AMERICAN: Anglo American's management does not
consider a proposed $39 billion takeover offer from BHP Group
BHP.AX as attractive, two sources told Reuters, as some
investors and analysts dismissed it as opportunistic.
* ANGLO AMERICAN: South Africa's government is scrutinising
BHP Group's BHP.AX proposed deal to buy Anglo American
AAL.L , a spokesperson said, with the deal likely to concern
officials the coming weeks before a general election where the
governing party's majority is at risk.
* CONSUMER SENTIMENT: British consumer sentiment returned to
a two-year high this month as households took a more positive
view of the economy and their own finances, a long-running
survey showed.
* OIL: Oil prices rose in early trade as players took stock
of the U.S. Treasury secretary's comments that the country's
economy is likely in a stronger position than indicated by weak
first-quarter data, coupled with supply concerns as conflict
continues in the Middle East.
* GOLD: Gold prices edged lower and were set for a weekly
decline as investor attention turned to key U.S. inflation data
for cues on the Federal Reserve's interest rate trajectory.
* FTSE: Britain's benchmark FTSE 100 stock index scored its
third consecutive record high on Thursday, led by miner Anglo
American on a buyout offer from BHP Group, while investors
cheered earnings from several blue-chip firms including
Unilever, AstraZeneca and Barclays.
* UK CORPORATE DIARY:
NatWest Group NWG.L Q1 results
Pearson PSON.L Q1 trading update
Smurfit Kappa SKG.I Q1 trading update
* 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
(Reporting by Prerna Bedi in Bengaluru)
((Prerna.Bedi@thomsonreuters.com; +91 98052 24616;))