(Sharecast News) - LONDON PRE-OPEN

The FTSE 100 was expected to open 41.6 points higher ahead of the bell on Thursday, after wrapping up the previous session 0.58% firmer at 10,325.35.


STOCKS TO WATCH

Utility giant National Grid reported another year of solid progress on Thursday, underpinned by record capital investment and increased regulatory visibility across its UK and US networks. Underlying earnings per share came in at 78p, up 8% year-on-year at constant currency, with its strong operational performance tempered by recent divestments, higher storm‑related costs, a larger share count and the impact of a FERC order. Gross revenue from continuing operations, on the other hand, slipped 4% to £17.68bn.

Aviva said it was on track to meet full year targets after a large jump in first quarter premiums. Gross written premiums rose 18% to £3.4bn in the period supported by its recent acquisition of Direct Line and growth in intermediated business, including the addition of its Home partnership with Nationwide.

NEWPAPER ROUND-UP

Nigel Farage is facing a formal investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog over a £5m gift from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. The Reform UK leader received the money weeks before announcing he would stand as a candidate in the 2024 general election. - Guardian

Many chocolate lovers consider shrinkflation a serious crime - and they have been vindicated after a German court ruled that the makers of Milka cheated consumers by cutting the bar's size, while keeping the wrapper the same. The three-week case in a regional court was brought by Hamburg's consumer protection office. It accused the chocolate brand's US owner Mondelēz of deceiving shoppers by cutting the weight of Milka's classic Alpine Milk bar from 100g to 90g without significantly altering the distinctive purple packaging. - Guardian

Crispin Odey, the hedge fund manager, is believed to have settled a string of legal claims over allegations of sexual assault. Mr Odey had faced five personal injury claims brought against him by women who accused him of sexual assault. However, Mr Odey has settled four of the claims just weeks before they were set to be heard at a joint trial next month, according to the Financial Times. - Telegraph

Labour is to ban new oil and gas fields in Britain, making it far harder for any future government to reopen the North Sea. A legal prohibition on new drilling will be included in the energy independence bill, part of the raft of new legislation set out by the King in his speech opening Parliament on Wednesday. The bill will make Ed Miliband's temporary moratorium on new drilling permanent, ensuring it would be far harder for a future government to reverse the ban. Labour also plans to legally ban onshore fracking. - Telegraph

Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, holds more than $2bn in companies that have done business with the artificial intelligence firm, a court document showed. Altman faces claims of conflict of interest from state attorneys-general and Elon Musk, as well as a US congressional investigation. - The Times

One of Britain's best-known stockpickers has ditched his entire holding in Unilever as he accused the company of succumbing to pressure from the activist investor Nelson Peltz. Terry Smith, who runs the £12.5bn Fundsmith Equity Fund, said he had sold out of the London-listed consumer goods conglomerate because it "appears to have abandoned its promised operational focus in favour of activist-driven break-ups". - The Times

US CLOSE

Major indices delivered a mixed performance on Wednesday after the US producer price index registered its largest monthly increase in four years.

At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.14% at 49,693.20, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.58% to 7,44.25.91 and the Nasdaq Composite saw out the session 1.20% firmer at 26,402.34.



Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com

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