UK Stocks-Factors to watch on February 18 (updated)
18/02/2026 07:51
Adds new items, updates futures Feb 18 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Wednesday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.24%. * GLENCORE: Glencore GLEN.L, fresh from a failed takeover approach from bigger rival Rio Tinto RIO.L, reported slightly lower earnings, and said it would return $2 billion to shareholders. * YOUGOV: YouGov Plc YOU.L named Ian Griffiths as its permanent chair, replacing Deborah Davis, who had held the role on an interim basis since February 2025. * BAE SYSTEMS: BAE Systems BAES.L reported a better-than-expected 12% rise in full-year operating profit to 3.32 billion pounds. * INFLATION: Britain's annual rate of consumer price inflation in January fell to its lowest since March last year but a measure of underlying price pressures, closely watched by the Bank of England, remained strong, official figures showed. * PAY DEALS: Pay settlements awarded by British employers have risen in value after a largely stable 2025, suggesting the start of a shift towards higher deals this year as businesses compete for staff, Brightmine said. * OIL: Oil prices steadied in Asian trade after falling about 2% in the previous session as investors assessed progress in U.S.-Iran talks but remained cautious about the prospects of a final deal that could ease supply concerns. * METALS: LME copper rose on bargain-hunting by investors in thin Asian trade, after falling to a more than one-week low in the previous session when high inventories of the red metal and a firm dollar pressured prices. * GOLD: Gold prices rose in low market liquidity, rebounding from a one-week low hit in the previous session, while markets await the release of the Federal Reserve's January meeting minutes for cues into the rate outlook. * 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 and Ankita Bora in Bengaluru) ((Neeshita.Beura@thomsonreuters.com))