UK Stocks-Factors to watch on May 8
08/05/2026 06:12
May 8 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Friday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.69%. * BP: BP BP.L CEO Meg O'Neill told staff on Thursday that a reorganisation into two main business units - upstream and downstream - will start in June, three sources familiar with the call said. * UNILEVER: With Unilever ULVR.L set to spin off its food unit and merge it with U.S. peer McCormick MKC.N, some investors plan to press the combined entity to adopt the same standards against deforestation and environmental risks as the UK consumer products giant. * LLOYD'S OF LONDON: Lloyd's of London is weighing how much of the findings of its governance investigation to disclose publicly, with chair Sir Charles Roxburgh resistant to significant disclosures, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. * OIL: Oil prices were higher on Friday and stocks a little bit lower as the U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in the Middle East, though many markets in Asia were still heading for stellar weekly gains as AI demand has swept up chipmakers. * GOLD: Gold rose was headed for a weekly gain on easing fears of inflation and higher interest rates, as investors remained optimistic about a U.S.-Iran peace deal despite renewed hostilities. * METALS: Copper prices fell, pressured by a stronger dollar and renewed U.S.–Iran tensions that have dimmed optimism over a potential peace deal. * FTSE: Britain's FTSE 100 dropped on Thursday, as losses in oil majors Shell and BP and defence firms weighed, while Britons headed to the polls in local and regional elections. * UK CORPORATE DIARY:
| IAG | ICAG.L | Q1 trading statement |
| Airtel Africa | AAF.L | FY results |
| Rightmove | RMV.L | Trading update |