FTSE 100 news overview: Saturday 17 October 2026

Most positive coverage

Companies with 3+ relevant stories.

1. Airtel Africa +9.2 6 stories
   Coverage focused on the London listing of Airtel Money and upbeat commentary about its income contribution.
2. Glencore +8.7 3 stories
   Coverage centred on Glencore's new Australian listing, with a UBS Buy rating and access to the Australian pension market seen as positives.
3. Aviva +8.3 16 stories
   Coverage was dominated by Aviva's target of more than £500m annual Wealth profit by 2032, set out ahead of its Wealth investor briefing.
4. Coca-Cola HBC +8.3 3 stories
   Coverage was positive, with a guidance-driven lift to the dividend, gains linked to emerging markets, and Jefferies reaffirming its Buy rating.
5. Rolls-Royce Holdings +8.3 4 stories
   Coverage was mainly positive, led by a 70-engine order from Avolon and a rise in the shares.

Most negative coverage

Companies with 3+ relevant stories.

1. Lloyds Banking Group −7.0 20 stories
   Coverage was dominated by reports that the Chancellor is considering a bank tax increase ahead of the Budget, which pushed Lloyds shares lower.
2. Severn Trent −7.0 9 stories
   Coverage was dominated by the regulator's finding that a Severn Trent-owned unit breached wastewater obligations and must pay £280,000 over sewage spill failures.
3. United Utilities −5.2 6 stories
   Coverage focused on a £280k penalty for sewage spills and a net Ofwat penalty with possible bill cuts, which weigh on the company.
4. Melrose Industries −4.7 4 stories
   Coverage mostly centred on the $125 million settlement involving GKN Aerospace and an insurance dispute linked to it, which weighs on sentiment.
5. NatWest Group −4.7 29 stories
   Coverage was dominated by reports of a possible bank tax in the 28 October budget, which pushed UK bank shares, including NatWest, lower.

Biggest moves from the day before

• BAE Systems +7.2 → −3.3
  Coverage was dominated by a cyber incident at a BAE-managed system that halted US bankruptcy court notices, which hurt its reputation.
• NatWest Group +5.5 → −4.7
  Coverage was dominated by reports of a possible bank tax in the 28 October budget, which pushed UK bank shares, including NatWest, lower.
• Melrose Industries +4.8 → −4.7
  Coverage mostly centred on the $125 million settlement involving GKN Aerospace and an insurance dispute linked to it, which weighs on sentiment.
• Lloyds Banking Group +2.3 → −7.0
  Coverage was dominated by reports that the Chancellor is considering a bank tax increase ahead of the Budget, which pushed Lloyds shares lower.
• Airtel Africa +0.3 → +9.2
  Coverage focused on the London listing of Airtel Money and upbeat commentary about its income contribution.
• Rentokil Initial −3.8 → +5.0
  Coverage centred on analyst views, with Jefferies reaffirming its Buy rating and a consensus target price being reported.
• Shell −2.3 → +6.2
  Coverage was mostly positive, with Shell shares closing up 3% and JPMorgan lifting its price target.
• BP −0.3 → +7.8
  Coverage focused on BP shares reaching a 52-week high, helped by refining margins and debt reduction, with a further 3.6% rise noted.

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