The FTSE 100 Index rose for four consecutive days and reached its all-time high of £9,578 as traders reacted to key earnings and macro data. It has jumped by over 27% from its lowest level this year. This article explores the top FTSE 100 shares to watch next week.k

Top FTSE 100 shares to watch

The FTSE 100 Index will have two main catalysts next week: earnings and the Federal Reserve decision. The Fed decision will be notable as it comes at a time when the US is in a government shutdown. A rate cut will likely be bullish for global stocks. 

The top FTSE 100 companies that will publish their results are HSBC, Standard Chartered, GlaxoSmithKline, Shell, Standard Chartered, and Haleon. 

HSBC (HSBA)

HSBC, the biggest European bank by assets, will be one of the top FTSE 100 stocks to watch next week as it publishes its earnings on Monday. These numbers come a few days after other banks like Lloyds, Barclays, and NatWest published their results. 

HSBC’s results also come after the company announced its full acquisition of Hang Seng Bank, as it seeks to grow its Asian business. 

The most recent results showed that HSBC’s profit after tax dropped to $12.4 billion in the first half of the year from $17.6 billion. This decline was due to one-time charges related to it exist of the Argentinian and Canadian markets. It also suffered from its Bank of Communications exposure. 

Analysts expect the upcoming results to show that the earnings per share slipped to 24 cents as its revenue slowed to $12.38 billion.

Read more: HSBC appoints ex-NatWest executive David Lindberg to lead UK arm

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)

GSK is another top FTSE 100 Index stock to watch next week as it releases its numbers on Tuesday. These numbers come as its stock is trading at 1,646p, up sharply from the year-to-date low of 1,215p. 

GSK recently boosted its full-year guidance, which explains why the stock has been resilient. It now expects the annual results to show that the turnover will be at the upper side of the 3% to 5% range. 

Similarly, core operating profit and earnings per share (EPS) will be towards the upper side of expectations. The company is benefiting from the strong demand of specialty medicines. 

Shell 

Shell share price has been in a strong uptrend this year and is now hovering at its highest level this year. It has jumped from a low of 2,225p to 2,845p. This week’s gains happened after crude oil prices jumped after Trump delivered new sanctions on Russia’s Rosneft and Lukoil.

In a recent note, Shell noted that its oil and gas trading business rebounded in the third quarter. The company is benefiting from an increase in its LNG liquefaction volume and oil and gas output. However, its chemicals business continued to struggle and will be the main drag when it releases its results next week. 

Standard Chartered (STAN)

Standard Chartered is another top FTSE 100 Index stock to watch next week as it releases its numbers. These results come as its stock has pulled back from the year-to-date high of 1,512p to the current 1,402p. 

The most recent consensus report shows that the underlying net interest income will be $2.62 billion, while its other income will be $2.3 billion. Its underlying profit before taxation will be $1.7 billion as its credit impairment will be over $252 billion. 

Haleon (HLN)

Haleon, the maker of Sensodyne, Aquafresh, Panadol, Advil, and Eno, will be another top company to watch next week. These numbers come as its stock remains under pressure after falling from the year-to-date high of 420p to the current 350p.

Analysts expect the results to show that the revenue rose to £2.7 billion, a 3.3% increase from the same period last year. Most of this growth will be from the EMEA, LatAM, and Asia Pacific regions and offset by North America.

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