UK Stocks-Factors to watch on March 17 (updated)
17/03/2026 07:52
Adds news items, updates futures March 17 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Tuesday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.1%. * CLOSE BROTHERS: Close Brothers CBRO.L said it expects to cut 600 roles by fiscal 2027, a day after its shares tumbled 15% after short seller Viceroy Research posted a report on its website saying it was short the British financial services firm. * STHREE: SThree STEMS.L reported an 8% drop in net fees for the December to February period, and said CFO Andrew Beach will step down. * BT: Britain said it would regulate BT BT.L Openreach's national broadband network for another five years with a price cap on a wider range of speeds, to drive competition and extend fibre connections to the final fifth of the country's premises. * WICKES: Wickes WIX.L said it would accelerate investment in new stores with a target to reach 300 locations nationwide. * TRAVIS PERKINS: Travis Perkins TPK.L said that the trading environment since the start of 2026 has remained subdued amid a weak construction market. * VISTRY GROUP: Vistry Group VTYV.L appointed Rob Woodward as its non-executive chair, effective May 13, as the search for a chief executive continues. * RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto RIO.L said it has gained control of acreage in Arizona needed to build the Resolution Copper mine. * BP: BP BP.L said its Angola joint venture, Azule Energy, has started producing gas from the Quiluma field. * STEEL IMPORTS: Britain plans to double tariffs on steel imports, Politico reported on Monday, saying that it would be part of a wider strategy aimed at protecting the country's struggling steel industry. * COMMODITIES: Oil prices rose, while gold prices edged higher, and aluminium prices rose too. * 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 Roshni Srivastava in Bengaluru) ((roshni.srivastava@thomsonreuters.com))