* SHELL: Shell is splitting up its renewables and low-carbon division as part of CEO Wael Sawan's shake-up to boost the energy giant's returns.
* RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto Ltd , and Canada's First Quantum Minerals Ltd will form a joint venture to develop the La Granja copper project in Peru, the Anglo-Australian miner said.
* BP: Britain shortlisted for state support a project by BP and Equinor to build a large-scale gas power plant with carbon capture and storage, the government's latest selection round showed.
* OCADO: British online supermarket and technology group Ocado won a high court legal action brought by Norwegian robotics firm AutoStore .
* BUSINESS CONFIDENCE: British businesses were their most confident this month since May 2022 and pricing expectations cooled to a six-month low, a survey showed.
* OIL: Oil prices climbed in early Asian trade as sentiment was boosted by an expansion in factory activity in China and as concerns grew about Middle Eastern supply.
* GOLD: Gold prices edged up, en route to their best monthly performance since July 2020, as the recent banking system crisis led to expectations of a less-aggressive U.S. Federal Reserve, making bullion an attractive bet.
* METALS: Copper prices were on track for their second straight quarterly gain lifted by an improvement in demand from top consumer China after the country's stringent COVID-19 restrictions were removed.
* FTSE: British stocks rose in a broad-based rally on Thursday, as risk-on sentiment prevailed due to easing concerns of a global banking meltdown, while power company SSE jumped after lifting its annual outlook.
* UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Dignity Plc FY results James Halstead HY results Vanquis Banking Group FY results
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: TODAY'S UK PAPERS > Financial Times > Other business headlines (Reporting by Prerna Bedi in Bengaluru)
