Thursday preview: UK GDP, Burberry results among the highlights

11th Nov 2026 12:41

(Sharecast News) - There will be a raft of corporate news for investors to sink their teeth into on Thursday, as well as the latest UK GDP figures.

First-half results are due from 3i Group, B&M, luxury fashion brand Burberry, Premier Foods, Qinetiq, Syncona, United Utilities, Wizz Air and Volex, while WH Smith will release preliminary results.

AJ Bell analysts Russ Mould and Danni Hewson said that having sold off its legacy high street business in June last year, WH Smith was supposed to be spreading its wings as a travel-focused retailer benefiting from the captive audience to be found in major transport hubs.

"However, its wings were lopped off, let alone clipped by the accounting scandal in its North American business which emerged just a few months after the demerger," they said. "The worsening geopolitical climate and surging fuel prices have not helped demand either.

"Investors will be hoping for a clean set of accounts and for signs that management efforts to tighten controls around supplier income tracking and improve governance are delivering results. There will also be appetite for updates on WH Smith's plans for underperforming formats like the InMotion tech retail units."

The analysts said WH Smith will have to demonstrate that it is addressing balance sheet issues and bringing its debt down in an orderly fashion. "While it is highly unlikely there will be any movement on the suspended dividend, close attention is likely to be paid to levels of cash generation and whether the trend here is improving."

Investors will also eye third-quarter results from Endeavour Mining and trading updates from housebuilder Persimmon, engine maker Rolls-Royce, Keller and Kier. Across the pond, quarterly results from Cisco will be out.

On the macro front, the first estimate of Q3 UK GDP will be released, along with monthly industrial and manufacturing production, construction output, trade balance and preliminary business investment figures.

As far as the UK GDP is concerned, Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, said investors are expecting a robust reading for the quarter.

"Growth is expected to expand by 0.7%, which is the fastest quarterly pace of growth since the start of 2024," she said. "The UK economy has been surprising on the upside in recent months. This has been driven by AI spending and investment, which the BOE estimated has contributed nearly a fifth to UK growth this year.

"The AI theme is now penetrating into the real economy, just as cracks are starting to appear in the AI trade. However, UK GDP data could ultimately help investors to regain confidence in the AI trade in the long term. AI is a transformative technology and the UK is expected to have one of the quickest uptakes of AI due to our strength in the tech sector. If the UK economy is growing due to rapid AI expansion, then this is also proof that demand for AI infrastructure and products continues to build.

"Monthly GDP data for September is expected to slip and -0.1% is expected. However, analysts and economists have routinely under-estimated UK GDP in recent months, so take these expectations with a pinch of salt. Business AI investment does not turn on and off like a tap, also, the UK consumer has been resilient in the face of higher energy prices, so we would not be surprised if the September data is also stronger than expected when it is reported later this week."

Brooks said sterling will be in focus during the GDP data. A weaker-than expected-reading could weigh on Gilts and the pound, she said. "GBP/USD is higher by 1.5% in the past month, and the pair is back above $1.34. However, weaker GDP data could halt cable's march back towards $1.35.

"In contrast, a strong reading could see this pair bounce above $1.35, for the first time since early September."

In the US, the latest initial jobless claims and existing home sales figures will be in focus.