UK Stocks-Factors to watch on February 4 (updated)
04/02/2026 08:00
Adds new items, updates futures Feb 4 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Wednesday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.1%. * GSK: GSK GSK.L forecast slower sales growth in 2026 in the first outlook presented by new CEO Luke Miels. * BEAZLEY: Beazley BEZG.L reached an agreement on terms for a sweetened 8 billion pound ($10.96 billion) takeover proposal from Zurich Insurance Group, the companies said. * SSE: SSE SSE.L forecast annual adjusted earnings below last year, as it operates against a backdrop of mixed weather conditions. * WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND: Watches of Switzerland WOSG.L raised its annual sales forecast , citing robust demand for the company's key luxury brands in the U.S. and the UK markets. * SANTANDER: Santander UK SANS_pa.L reported a 14% rise in annual pretax profit, supported by higher net interest income, lower costs, and reduced provision charges. * SHELL: Shell SHEL.L has agreed to sell a 20% stake in its Orca project offshore Brazil to Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC), the oil major said. * GLENCORE: Glencore said it has suspended nearly $1 billion of planned investments at Horne Smelter, Canada's largest copper metal-producing operation, after failing to secure regulatory certainty from the provincial government of Quebec. * UNEMPLOYMENT: British unemployment is likely to rise to its highest since 2015 this year, partly due to a rising minimum wage and last year's increase in a tax on employers, a leading think tank said. * NUCLEAR: Britain unveiled a framework to accelerate the development of advanced nuclear reactors, aiming to become a global leader in the next-generation technology. * COMMODITIES: Oil prices extended gains, Shanghai copper climbed, and gold prices bounced back to near $5,100. * 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 ($1 = 0.7297 pounds) (Compiled by Neeshita Beura in Bengaluru) ((Neeshita.Beura@thomsonreuters.com))