UK Stocks-Factors to watch on October 16 (updated)
16/10/2025 07:53
Adds new items, updates futures Oct 16 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.11%. * ECONOMY: Britain's economy returned to growth in August when it expanded by a marginal 0.1% from July, official data showed. * TRAVIS PERKINS: British building materials supplier Travis Perkins TPK.L reported a 1.8% rise in like-for-like sales in the third-quarter, helped by sales promotions at its merchanting business, which supplies to the construction and home improvement markets. * WHITBREAD: Whitbread WTB.L said its forward bookings are ahead of last year in both the UK and Germany after the hotel and restaurant operator posted a 7% drop in half-year profit due to lower food and beverage sales. * CRODA: British specialty chemicals maker Croda International CRDA.L flagged a continued challenging trading environment for the rest of the year, citing low visibility in its order book despite reaffirming its annual outlook. * LENDABLE: British consumer credit firm Lendable launched a monthly 20-pound mobile plan. * THINK TANK STUDY: British finance minister Rachel Reeves should raise taxes by a lot in next month's budget to exit the "Groundhog Day scenario" of continuously having to find measures to patch up the public finances, a think tank said. * COMMODITIES: Oil prices rose after U.S. President Donald Trump said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pledged his country would stop buying oil from Russia; Gold hit a record high amid rising trade tensions between the U.S and China, the U.S. federal government shutdown and heightened rate-cut bets; Shanghai copper edged up on supply risks. * EX-DIVS: Persimmon PSN.L, Games Workshop Group GAW.L, Smiths Group SMIN.L, and Diageo PLC DGE.L will trade without entitlement to its latest dividend pay-out. * 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 Ankita Bora and Simone Lobo in Bengaluru) ((Ankita.Bora@thomsonreuters.com))