The FTSE 100 index held steady and reached a new all-time high as the Bank of England (BoE) slashed interest rates and as more constituent companies published their earnings. It was trading at £8,765 on Friday, down from the year-to-date high of £8,815,
Some top Footsie companies like Barclays and NatWest published their financial results this week. These firms released strong financial results, with the Barclays and NatWest share price soared to the highest point since 2007. So, let’s explore some of the top FTSE 100 shares to watch next week.
BAE Systems (BA)
BAE Systems, the biggest defense contractor in the UK, will be in the spotlight next week as it publishes its financial results on Thursday.
Its stock has retreated in the past few months, making a series of lower lows and lower highs. It has dropped by almost 12% from its highest point in November.
The company will likely benefit as investors anticipate more defense spending from the biggest countries. Donald Trump is pushing countries in the developed world to boost their defense budget, a move that would benefit defense companies like BAE Systems.
Defense contractors, however, are facing some challenges, especially the recently announced tariffs on steel and aluminum.
Lloyds Bank (LLOY)
Lloyds Bank will be the other top FTSE 100 company to watch as it publishes its financial results on Thursday.
There are signs that the firm’s results will be strong after the strong numbers from NatWest and Barclays.
The main challenge is that the company’s insurance division could attract a charge. This comes from an appeal judgment ruling that said that motor finance brokers should fully inform customers about their commissions. Some analysts believe that the insurance ruling may lead to higher costs and provisions.
The numbers come as the Lloyds share price is it sits to its highest level since 2007, before the Global Financial Crisis.
HSBC (HSBA)
The HSBC share price has surged in the last few years. It has risen in the last six consecutive months and is sitting at its all-time high. This surge has brought its market cap to over $196 billion.
HSBC stock has jumped as the new CEO has embarked on cost cuts and boost efficiency across all its segment. The most recent results showed that HSBC’s profit rose to over $8.5 billion as its revenue jumped to $8.7 billion.
Glencore (GLEN) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
Glencore share price will be in the spotlight next week as it releases its financial results. It has crashed to its lowest level since July 2022. GLEN has crashed by over 30% from its highest point in 2024. Rio Tinto stock has also plunged by over 11% from the highest level last year.
The two mining giants will be in the spotlight next week when they publish their financial results for the year.
The main catalyst will be their statement on the rumoured merger between Glencore and Rio Tinto. That merger would create one of the biggest companies in the mining industry.
Other FTSE 100 shares to watch
There will be other top companies to watch in the FTSE 100 next week. The most notable firms to focus on will be Standard Chartered, Mondi, Centrica, Antofagasta, InterContinental Hotel Group, and AstraZeneca.
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