UK Stocks-Factors to watch on February 5 (updated)

Vodafone

05/02/2026 07:45

Adds new items, updates futures

Feb 5 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.2%.

* SHELL: Shell's SHEL.L fourth-quarter net profit of $3.3 billion
missed
 expectations, dropping 11% from a year earlier amid lower oil prices.

* COMPASS GROUP: Compass Group CPG.L
reported
 a bigger rise in first-quarter organic revenue than expected.

* VODAFONE: Vodafone VOD.L
said
 top-line growth in Germany and a strong contribution from Turkey and Africa in its third quarter kept it on track to report full-year earnings and cash flow at the upper end of its guidance.

*  BT: BT BT.L
posted
 in-line quarterly results, and said its forecast for line losses this year had improved, putting it on track to meet its targets.

* ANGLO AMERICAN: Anglo American AAL.L posted a 10% drop in copper
production
 last year to 695,000 metric tons, the lower end of its guidance, and cut its 2026 forecast for the transition metal.

* RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto RIO.L and Glencore GLEN.L are expected to announce an extension to merger talks ahead of a UK regulatory deadline, three people familiar with the talks said.

Rio Tinto is pushing for its chair and CEO to retain their roles, while Glencore is holding out for a hefty premium, the Financial Times reported.

* HIKMA PHARMACEUTICALS: Brookfield Private Capital said it does not intend to make an offer for Britain's Hikma Pharmaceuticals HIK.L.

* INTEREST RATES: The Bank of England is expected to keep interest rates on hold on Thursday and leave its options open about when it will cut them again.

* COMMODITIES:
Oil
 prices fell over $1 a barrel,
copper
 fell, and
gold
 prices dipped sharply.

* 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 Neeshita Beura in Bengaluru)

((Neeshita.Beura@thomsonreuters.com))