UK stocks: factors to watch on October 1

SSE reported a nearly 20% rise in renewable energy output in the first half of the year. Land Securities agreed to buy the Metrocentre near Newcastle, funding the deal with a £500 million equity issue and existing debt. Topps Tiles reported a marginal fall in annual like-for-like sales but said self-help measures lifted September sales.

Sycamore Partners is close to selling Boots to the Weston family for about $9 billion, the Wall Street Journal reportedly said. Nubank said it is not pursuing a deal with Monzo. Rio Tinto secured government agreements to keep its Bell Bay Aluminium smelter operating through 2031, while Nest moved its entire £3.5 billion emerging-market equities portfolio to Wellington Management.

British annual house prices rose at their weakest pace since December 2025 and unexpectedly fell 0.2% on the month. The UK financial regulator dropped plans to require a new climate-reporting standard for listed companies, retaining a “comply or explain” approach. Oil and gold were flat as investors assessed US-Iran peace talks and awaited US jobs data; aluminium fell to a more-than-two-month low.