UK Stocks-Factors to watch on December 12

Taylor Maritime

12/12/2025 05:07

(Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Friday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.44%.

* GSK: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it has expanded the use of GSK's GSK.L Blujepa as an oral treatment for gonorrhea, a common sexually transmitted infection.

* SHELL: Shell SHEL.L is preparing to launch a new drilling campaign in the PEL 39 exploration block offshore Namibia from April 2026 with its partners QatarEnergy and Namibia's national oil company Namcor.

* ECONOMY: The Confederation of British Industry bumped up its economic growth forecast for next year, citing a temporary boost to government spending following the budget, while warning that deep-rooted problems remain.

* SPENDING: Britons are set to spend 24.6 billion pounds ($32.9 billion)over the Christmas period this year, a 3.5% increase on 2024, despite a slow start to festive trading, according to a survey from PwC.

* OIL: Oil prices rose supported by concerns of Venezuelan supply disruptions, though they remained on track for a weekly drop amid cautious market sentiment and optimism over the prospects for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal.

* METALS: Shanghai copper prices rose to a record high, bolstered by China's promise of fiscal boost next year and the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate cut and balance sheet expansion.

* GOLD: Gold prices held near a seven-week high , supported by expectations of more interest rate cuts next year after the U.S. Federal Reserve pushed back against hawkish market bets.

* FTSE: The UK's blue-chip FTSE 100 .FTSE closed up 0.5% on Thursday, buoyed by gains in precious metal miners, after the Federal Reserve's softer tone on the monetary policy path supported sentiment globally.

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

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 (Compiled by Simone Lobo in Bengaluru)

 ((((Simone.Lobo@thomsonreuters.com; +919920570373;))