News: RIO UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on May 5

(Adds news items)

May 5 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index .FTSE is seen opening higher on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 up 1.15%.

• SHELL: Shell SHEL.L reported a profit of $9.13 billion in the first quarter, its highest ever, boosted by higher oil and gas prices and a strong performance of its trading division.

• NEXT: Next NXT.L maintained its guidance for the full year after reporting a 21.3% rise in first quarter full price sales that was driven by a very weak comparative in 2021 when its stores were closed in a COVID-19 lockdown.
• BAE SYSTEMS: BAE Systems BAES.L said it saw opportunities in the medium term from increased defence spending in Europe and other markets.
• REACH: Reach RCH.L said advertiser demand had fallen in the last two months, with the war in Ukraine reducing the amount of content that brands want to be linked with, leading to lower growth.
• VIRGIN MONEY: British challenger bank Virgin Money UK Plc VMUK.L raised its annual net interest margin forecast on Thursday, boosted by strong credit card spending by customers and rising interest rates.
• BARRATT: UK's largest homebuilder BDEV.L became the latest company to reiterate robust demand in an undersupplied housing market, virtually dispelling inflation-led slowdown concerns.
• HISCOX: British insurer Hiscox HSX.L said on Thursday it has set aside $40 million for expected losses due to possible claims arising from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, joining peers in quantifying the hit from the conflict.
• OCADO: Some 29% of votes cast at Ocado's OCDO.L annual shareholder meeting opposed online supermarket and technology group's plan to extend management incentive scheme beyond its original five-year term.
• MONDI: Mondi MNDI.L said it would sell its Russian assets, the latest company to exit the country following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
• FTSE 100: UK's benchmark equities index declined on Wednesday, weighed down by weakness in consumer staple and healthcare shares, while investors awaited the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision later in the day.
• For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:

  TODAY'S UK PAPERS > Financial Times > Other business headlines