UK Stocks-Factors to watch on April 3

April 3 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 down 1.48%.

TARIFFS: Britain's Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds vowed to "remain calm" and insisted he still wants a trade deal with the United States after President Donald Trump decided to impose import tariffs of 10% on the United Kingdom.

OIL: Oil prices fell by as much as 3% after U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs, sparking fears of a global trade war that will curtail economic growth and limit fuel demand.

GOLD: Investors flocked to safe-haven assets and pushed gold to a record high on more aggressive-than-expected import tariffs kicking into higher gear an heated global trade war.

METALS: Copper prices in London dropped as sweeping U.S. reciprocal tariffs sparked concerns about global demand for metals.

EX-DIVS: Rentokil Initial RTO.L,Smiths Group SMIN.L, Barratt Redrow BTRW.L, Mondi MNDI.L, IMI IMI.L, Direct Line Insurance Group DLGD.L, Ithaca Energy ITH.L, Breedon Group BREE.L, Domino's Pizza Group DOM.L, Pollen Street POLNP.L and Chesnara CSN.L will trade without entitlement to their latest dividend pay-out on Thursday.

The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed down 0.3% on Wednesday as investors awaited details of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff plans in the latest escalation of a global trade war that has heightened worries about global growth and inflation.

UK CORPORATE DIARY:

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