FTSE 100 news / Companies and sectors / Utilities / 5 October 2026
Utilities: sector news on Monday 5 October 2026
Average tone +4.8 (positive) across 5 companies with relevant coverage, from 13 stories.
Company by company
| Company | Tone | Stories | What the coverage was about |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Grid | +7.0 | 5 | Coverage was led by National Grid expecting FY27 earnings per share slightly above its growth guidance. |
| SSE | +2.8 | 3 | Coverage focused on SSE's interim earnings and investment plans, with guidance held, and a £232m battery project under construction in East Ayrshire. |
| Centrica | +6.8 | 2 | Coverage was mainly about a JP Morgan price target of 227p and a 20-year LNG deal, which lean positive. |
| Metlen Energy & Metals | +9.3 | 2 | Coverage centred on Metlen signing a gallium supply deal with a Japanese chemical group. |
| United Utilities | −2.0 | 1 | The only relevant coverage was a local story about a road closure for United Utilities works forcing drivers to divert. |
| Severn Trent | – | 0 |
Strongest stories in the sector
- +9.7 Metlen locks in Japanese buyer as European gallium output sells out early
Secures Japanese buyer; European gallium output sold out early, strong demand. - +9.2 National Grid Expects FY27 EPS 'Slightly Above' Growth Guidance
FY27 EPS expected slightly above growth guidance; positive outlook. - +8.7 Weekly Recap: 227p JP Morgan target for Centrica and 20yr LNG deal
JP Morgan target of 227p and a 20-year LNG deal are positives. - +8.7 METLEN signs gallium supply deal with Japanese chemical group
New gallium supply deal with Japanese chemical group adds revenue visibility. - +6.3 £232m battery project in East Ayrshire under construction
£232m battery storage project progressing, supports growth plans - +5.0 National Grid sensors preventing outages
National Grid sensors preventing outages; positive operational story. - +5.0 National Grid stock gains after GBP 600 million framework win status clarified? no
Share gain linked to GBP 600 million framework win, though status unclear. - +2.0 Weekly Recap: Interim adj EPS 64–68p and H1 capex £2.5bn, debt £11.5bn
Interim earnings and capex guidance recap; factual, mildly positive - −2.0 Drivers forced to make right turn into Middlegate as Duke Street closed for United Utilities works
Road closure for its works causes local traffic disruption. - −1.3 SSE stock fell 1.05 percent as earnings guidance held
Shares slipped slightly though earnings guidance was maintained - +0.8 UK Stock Market News: National Grid, Galliford Try, Quartix
Market roundup naming National Grid; limited detail on prospects. - −0.7 British Gas Advises Winter Stockpiles Over Polar Vortex Concerns
British Gas gives winter stockpile advice; largely factual, slightly cautionary.