UK stocks: Factors to watch on October 14
EWU•Britain’s FTSE 100 was seen opening 0.2% higher. Company updates included first-quarter inflows at Ashmore, Shell’s agreement to sell its Nigerian gas business and an activist call for Big Yellow Group to consider a strategic review.
1. Company updates
LSEG partnered with Nvidia to help financial institutions process and analyse Tick History market data faster. Robert Walters returned to net fee growth in the third quarter, Ashmore reported first-quarter net inflows ahead of expectations, and Shell agreed to sell its full interest in Shell Nigeria Gas Group to Vaaris Energy. Glencore shares traded heavily in their Australian Securities Exchange debut, while Rio Tinto said it was on track to release about $5 billion in capital by the end of 2026.
2. Investor and regulatory news
Activist investor Ancora urged Big Yellow Group to launch a strategic review, including a potential sale. Ofwat proposed cutting water bills by £240 million, with Thames Water and Yorkshire Water set to incur the largest penalties for under-performing on targets. Large British companies expect inflation and interest rates to rise over the next year and are focusing increasingly on cost-cutting, a Deloitte survey showed.
3. Budget and markets
John Healey is expected to pay for budget giveaways, including a cost-of-living package, with higher taxes or spending cuts rather than more borrowing, the Financial Times reported. The Times reported that online marketplaces including Amazon, eBay and Temu are expected to be made responsible for collecting tax owed by retailers using their platforms. Oil and copper prices rose, while gold held firm.
