Amaroq Ltd. (LSE:AMRQ) reported gold production of approximately 12,000 ounces in the third quarter of 2026, taking output for the first nine months of the year to around 21,000 ounces.
The Greenland-focused mine developer said improved operational consistency and the commissioning of a flotation recovery circuit allowed it to reach its original fourth-quarter production target one quarter earlier than planned.
Amaroq maintained its full-year 2026 production guidance of between 25,000 and 35,000 ounces of gold.
The company’s principal producing asset is the Nalunaq gold mine in southern Greenland, which it owns outright.
Amaroq to Join FTSE 250
Amaroq also confirmed that it will be included in the FTSE 250 Index from 8 October 2026, following its move from London’s AIM market to the main market.
Management expects FTSE 250 membership to broaden the company’s investor base and increase share liquidity through participation from funds that track the index.
Amaroq’s shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Iceland.
Greenland Portfolio
Alongside Nalunaq, Amaroq holds an exploration portfolio covering gold and strategic metals in South and West Greenland. Its exploration targets include copper, nickel, rare earths and other base metals.
The company is also developing mining services and logistics operations through its Suliaq subsidiary. Its Imeq ApS business is developing a private hydroelectric project in Greenland to support its resource development activities.
For UK investors seeking an income, dividend stocks remain an important consideration.
The FYSE 100 is forecast to distribute approximately £88 billion in dividends during 2026. The index offers a yield of around 3%, although individual companies provide considerably different levels of income and risk.
Some of the largest dividend payers are concentrated in financial services, energy and consumer goods. However, investors looking beyond headline yields may also find companies with established payout records and opportunities for dividend growth.
Here are eight UK-listed dividend stocks to examine.
UK dividend stocks at a glance
The following yields are approximate figures reported in September 2026, rather than guaranteed future returns.
Company
Ticker
Dividend yield
Legal & General
LSE:LGEN
7.5%
Standard Life
LSE:SDLF
7.3%
M&G
LSE:MNG
5.9%
British American Tobacco
LSE:BATS
5.8%
National Grid
LSE:NG.
4.2%
HSBC
LSE:HSBA
3.7%
Unilever
LSE:ULVR
3.6%
Shell
LSE:SHEL
3.2%
Legal & General: High dividend income
Legal & General (LSE:LGEN) offers an indicative dividend yield of approximately 7.5%, reflecting its position among the higher-yielding large UK companies.
Its insurance, retirement and investment operations provide several sources of earnings, although investors need to assess dividend coverage, capital generation and the group’s financial commitments.
The sustainability of distributions is particularly relevant when a company offers a yield substantially above the wider market.
Standard Life (LSE:SDLF), formerly Phoenix Group, offers a dividend yield of approximately 7.3%.
Its retirement and savings operations provide exposure to long-term demand for pension products. However, capital requirements, debt and the performance of its underlying insurance operations remain important considerations.
Investors should examine the company’s cash generation alongside its dividend commitments.
British American Tobacco: Established distributions
British American Tobacco (LSE:BATS) offers an indicative yield of approximately 5.8%.
The group has a longstanding dividend record, supported by cash generated from its tobacco operations. Its transition towards alternative nicotine products remains an important element of its longer-term strategy.
Declining cigarette consumption, regulation and the costs associated with developing new products could affect future earnings and distributions.
National Grid (LSE:NG.) provides exposure to regulated electricity networks in the UK and the United States, with an indicative dividend yield of approximately 4.2%.
Its regulated activities offer a different earnings profile from more cyclical businesses, but substantial infrastructure investment creates financing requirements.
Investors should also account for the company’s 2025 dividend reset, which followed its equity fundraising for network investment.
HSBC: Banking dividends and international exposure
HSBC (LSE:HSBA) offers an indicative yield of approximately 3.7%.
The bank’s international operations provide exposure to multiple economies, particularly in Asia. Its capacity to distribute capital depends on profitability, credit quality, regulatory requirements and interest-rate conditions.
Changes in net interest income and potential loan losses are important factors when assessing the sustainability of banking dividends.
Unilever (LSE:ULVR) offers an indicative yield of approximately 3.6%.
The consumer goods group has maintained or increased its dividend for more than two decades, according to September research from IG.
Its household and personal care brands provide exposure to everyday consumer demand, although competition, input costs and currency movements can affect profitability.
Dividend growth and the proportion of earnings distributed to shareholders are important measures for investors examining its longer-term income potential.
Shell (LSE:SHEL) offers an indicative yield of approximately 3.2%.
The energy group generates cash from its oil, gas and liquefied natural gas operations, supporting shareholder distributions through dividends and share buybacks.
However, its earnings remain exposed to commodity prices, operational performance and capital expenditure requirements.
Investors should distinguish between recurring dividends and buybacks, which can vary according to market conditions and management decisions.
What should investors examine before buying dividend stocks?
Dividend yield is only one measure of potential income. A rising yield can reflect a falling share price rather than an improvement in the company’s financial position.
Dividend coverage, free cash flow, debt levels and the history of shareholder distributions provide additional information about sustainability.
Sector diversification also matters. A portfolio concentrated in insurers, banks or energy companies may be exposed to common economic and regulatory risks.
Investors should also consider total returns, which include both dividend income and changes in share prices. Dividends are not guaranteed, and capital losses can exceed the income received.
UK dividend stocks: The outlook for income investors
The UK market offers a range of dividend-paying companies, from higher-yielding financial groups to consumer businesses and infrastructure operators.
Legal & General, Standard Life and M&G illustrate the higher-yielding segment, while Unilever, National Grid and Shell provide exposure to different industries and dividend profiles.
With the FTSE 100 expected to distribute approximately £88 billion in 2026, dividend income remains a significant component of the UK equity market. Nevertheless, future payments will depend on company earnings, cash generation and financial conditions.
US stock futures were broadly unchanged on Monday as markets awaited September services activity data and continued to assess the outlook for Federal Reserve interest rates following recent volatility in Treasury yields.
The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield was little changed after recently climbing to multi-decade highs.
The Institute for Supply Management is due to publish its September services sector report shortly after the start of trading. Economists expect the services PMI to ease to 55.0 from 55.4 in August, with any reading above 50 indicating an expansion in activity.
“Another strong activity reading could revive the “good news is bad news” dynamic and push yields higher again, while evidence of moderation would reinforce the case for the Fed to wait,” said Daniela Hathorn, Senior Market Analyst at Capital.com.
Markets are also awaiting minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest monetary policy meeting on Wednesday for further indications about policymakers’ views ahead of the central bank’s next meeting later this month.
CME Group’s FedWatch Tool showed an 80.6% probability of interest rates remaining unchanged following Friday’s weaker-than-expected US employment report.
US Indices Closed Higher on Friday
Wall Street finished higher on Friday after initially recording larger gains following the September employment report.
The Nasdaq climbed 319.27 points, or 1.2%, to 27,190.86. The S&P 500 gained 56.27 points, or 0.7%, to 7,722.72, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 250.40 points, or 0.5%, to finish at 51,176.96.
The weekly performance was mixed. The Nasdaq gained 0.5%, while the S&P 500 declined 0.3% and the Dow lost 1.3%.
US non-farm payrolls increased by 29,000 in September, according to the Labor Department, below economists’ forecast for an increase of 85,000. August’s employment gain was revised down to 133,000.
The unemployment rate increased to 4.2% from 4.1%, compared with expectations for no change.
Treasury yields fell following the employment figures as expectations for another Federal Reserve rate increase later this month declined, although yields subsequently reversed part of that move.
Oil Falls While Semiconductor Stocks Advance
Crude oil ended Friday down 1.9% after the Group of Seven confirmed plans to release diesel and crude reserves. Prices nevertheless finished above their lows for the session.
Semiconductor stocks were among the stronger areas of the equity market, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index advancing 2.4% to a three-month closing high.
Networking stocks also gained, with the NYSE Arca Networking Index rising 2.2%. Transportation and computer hardware stocks advanced, while airline shares came under pressure during the session.
European equity markets were mixed on Monday, with French stocks declining after a sell-off in French government bonds pushed borrowing costs higher.
The euro fell to a 17-month low against the US dollar amid concerns over French borrowing costs and political uncertainty.
The spread between French and German 10-year government bond yields stood at 146.30 basis points after reaching a nearly 15-year high on Friday.
France’s debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to increase from 119% this year to 122% next year.
France’s CAC 40 fell 0.7%, while Germany’s DAX gained 0.2% and the UK’s FTSE 100 rose 0.6%.
Alm. Brand Raises Outlook as AkzoNobel Agrees $1.35 Billion Sale
Among individual stocks, shares in Danish insurer Alm. Brand rose after the company increased its fiscal 2026 outlook following its third-quarter performance.
AkzoNobel (EU:AKZA) also advanced after the Dutch paints and coatings company agreed to sell its Southeast Asian decorative paints business to Nippon Paint for $1.35 billion.
Deutsche Telekom (TG:DTE) gained after the German telecommunications group said it expects to reduce indirect costs by approximately €2.5 billion by 2030 compared with 2023.
Air Liquide (EU:AI) moved higher after the French industrial gases company presented a new strategic plan covering the period through 2030.
In London, BT Group (LSE:BT.A) rose after acquiring broadband provider TalkTalk out of administration.
Sirius Real Estate (LSE:SRE) also gained after reporting an 11.3% year-on-year increase in its rent roll for the six months to September. The company owns and operates business parks, offices and mixed-use workspaces across Germany and the UK.
Novo Nordisk (TG:NOV), meanwhile, declined after the US Food and Drug Administration extended its review of the company’s experimental haemophilia A treatment.
Oil prices fell during Asian trading on Monday as Middle East crude exports recovered and G7 countries prepared to release emergency oil reserves, reducing some immediate concerns about global supply.
At 03:00 ET (07:00 GMT), December Brent crude futures declined 0.6% to $101.62 a barrel, while November West Texas Intermediate futures fell 1% to $90.19.
The declines were limited by continued geopolitical risks in the Middle East, where attacks and military activity remain a potential source of disruption to energy supplies and shipping.
G7 countries agreed on Friday to release 100 million barrels of crude oil and fuel products from emergency reserves. A significant portion of the diesel included in the plan is expected to be released within 20 days.
The measure is intended to address supply disruptions associated with the conflict involving Iran.
ING analysts said: “This action reflects the growing tightness in the diesel market as we move closer towards the Northern Hemisphere winter and the threat of a US diesel export ban. The G7 move has President Trump ruling out the possibility of an export ban.”
Crude Flows Rise Above Pre-War Average
Middle East crude exports exceeded pre-war levels on four days during the final week of September, according to reports citing Kpler data.
Daily exports ranged between 19.5 million and 22.5 million barrels on September 24 and from September 27 through September 29.
By October 1, the seven-day moving average stood at 18.5 million barrels per day, above the pre-war average of 18 million barrels per day.
Higher flows through the Strait of Hormuz and the use of alternative export routes have contributed to the recovery, although shipping risks remain.
Saudi Aramco Cuts November Arab Light Price
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi forces said they launched missiles and drones at Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and Khurais in response to Saudi-led strikes in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the reported attacks.
Separately, Saudi Aramco (TADAWUL:2222) cut the November official selling price for Arab Light crude to Asian customers by $3 a barrel.
The company priced the grade at a $5-a-barrel discount to the Oman-Dubai average, its widest discount since June 2020, as it seeks to maintain market share amid increased freight costs.
OPEC+ also agreed to keep its November production targets unchanged. The group is scheduled to hold its next meeting on November 1.
Gold prices moved higher on Monday after recording their largest weekly decline since June, as weaker US employment figures reduced market expectations for another Federal Reserve interest-rate increase in October.
At 02:12 ET (06:12 GMT), spot gold rose 0.21% to $4,149.19 an ounce, while gold futures increased 0.4% to $4,176.97. Silver advanced 1.6% to $61.36 and platinum gained 1.1% to $1,719.71.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.4% at 102.31.
The decline in expectations for an October rate increase provided some support to gold, although elevated Treasury yields and inflation risks associated with energy prices remained factors for the market.
September Payrolls Come in Below Expectations
US nonfarm payrolls increased by 29,000 in September, below analyst expectations, according to figures released on Friday.
Following the employment report, markets were pricing in around a 20% probability that the Federal Reserve would raise rates at its October policy meeting, compared with approximately 70% a week earlier.
Higher interest rates generally increase the opportunity cost of holding gold because the metal does not provide interest income.
Gold declined by more than 6% during September, its largest monthly fall since June, as investors considered whether higher energy prices and associated inflationary pressures could keep US interest rates elevated.
Federal Reserve officials have also pushed back against expectations for an imminent increase in borrowing costs.
Minutes from the Fed’s September meeting are due later this week. Policymakers increased interest rates at that meeting for the first time in three years, and the minutes could provide further information about their assessment of inflation and future policy.
Middle East Developments Maintain Energy Inflation Risk
Oil prices have risen as markets assess an expansion of the conflict in the Middle East, maintaining attention on the potential inflationary impact of energy costs.
Saudi-backed forces in Yemen launched an operation aimed at retaking areas controlled by Iran-backed Houthi forces.
Further increases in energy prices could contribute to inflation and complicate the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook, despite the weaker employment figures reducing immediate expectations for another rate increase.
US Treasury yields have meanwhile remained elevated, with some rates reaching their highest levels in more than 20 years.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the rise in borrowing costs was broadly consistent with trends in global markets, playing down concerns about the increase in yields.
ANZ said weaker labour-market data and lower expectations for an October Fed rate increase were providing some support to gold. However, the bank said elevated bond yields and renewed energy-related inflation risks continued to limit further gains.
Saudi Aramco Chief Executive Amin Nasser said global oil inventories have fallen to “scarily thin” levels and that supply pressures are likely to remain until the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened.
Speaking at the Energy Intelligence Forum in London, Nasser said constraints were affecting crude oil as well as refined products, with fuel prices experiencing larger increases.
Planned releases of as much as 100 million barrels of emergency crude and diesel reserves by major economies could provide some short-term relief, according to Nasser, but would not address the underlying imbalance between global supply and demand.
He said oil-consuming countries could need as long as two years to rebuild their inventories following a full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Gulf Producers Increase Crude Flows
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have increased production and exports, including by using their own tankers to transport crude through the Strait of Hormuz.
Crude flows have recovered to near pre-war levels, although Brent has remained around $100 a barrel over the past month as markets continue to account for supply risks affecting the Persian Gulf and Red Sea.
Aramco has increased shipments from the Ras Tanura export terminal while restoring its East-West pipeline to approximately 80% of capacity. Operations on the pipeline had been temporarily halted following an attack last month.
The recovery in pipeline availability has enabled Aramco to route additional crude through the Red Sea.
Nasser said Aramco had maintained supplies during the conflict by drawing on international storage and quickly repairing damaged infrastructure.
The company is also examining alternative export routes and additional overseas storage as part of efforts to reduce reliance on individual supply routes.
US stock index futures traded modestly lower on Monday as markets considered the outlook for Federal Reserve monetary policy alongside developments in Yemen and Iran and lower crude oil prices.
At 02:58 ET (06:58 GMT), Dow futures were 33 points lower, representing a decline of 0.1%. S&P 500 futures fell 9 points, or 0.1%, while Nasdaq 100 futures were down 24 points, also 0.1%.
Wall Street ended the previous week higher after softer US economic figures and comments from Federal Reserve officials increased expectations that policymakers will leave interest rates unchanged at their October meeting.
Oil prices have also declined amid indications that some Middle East exports are continuing and following an agreement by G7 countries to release emergency energy reserves.
Vital Knowledge analysts said: “However, none of this really alters the broader backdrop, which is still defined by upside energy price risks and elevated borrowing costs.”
Yemen Conflict Adds to Regional Supply Uncertainty
Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia, announced over the weekend that it had begun a military offensive against Iran-backed Houthi forces.
The operation is intended to retake areas of Yemen controlled by the Houthis. President Rashad al-Alimi said in a televised address that the offensive would continue until “the country is liberated from the grip of the terrorist militia.”
The Houthis currently control several populated parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and areas in the northwest. Recent advances have also increased their influence around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and represents an important route for international shipping.
The situation has added to uncertainty surrounding Middle East energy flows at a time when traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has already been restricted.
Despite those disruptions, reports indicate that some oil supplies continue to leave the region.
Iran Says Conditions Must Be Met Before Hormuz Reopens
Iran has maintained that restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz will remain until seven conditions contained in an interim agreement with the United States are fulfilled.
Iran’s parliament speaker said on Sunday that the country’s position was “completely clear and firm,” adding that Washington “must understand that the period of dragging out the [diplomatic] process and dictating one-sided demands is over.”
Iran reportedly offered during September’s United Nations General Assembly to reopen the waterway and restore normal maritime traffic within seven days if its conditions were met.
The United States responded through Qatari intermediaries last week, although the details of Washington’s response remain unclear.
Qatar has been acting as an intermediary between the two countries during the conflict, which began with a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran in late February. Iran restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz shortly afterwards. Before the conflict, roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed through the strait.
Brent and WTI Decline as Markets Assess Supply Flows
Crude oil prices moved lower on Monday as continued exports from the Middle East and the planned release of G7 emergency reserves provided some additional supply to the market.
At 03:32 ET, Brent crude futures declined 0.8% to $101.50 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate futures were down 1.3% at $89.90.
Middle East oil exports were above pre-war levels on four of the seven days in the final week of September, according to shipping figures cited by Reuters.
G7 countries agreed late last week to release 100 million barrels of crude oil and diesel from emergency reserves while refraining from imposing energy export restrictions.
OPEC+ separately agreed to maintain its existing production targets for November. Actual production by the group remains below its quotas, according to an analyst cited by Reuters.
Altman Outlines Position on AI Regulation and Risk
OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman said the potential benefits of artificial intelligence mean society should be prepared to accept “some bad things happening” as the technology develops.
Altman said he would not “take a trade of saying, We’ll make sure there’s no major hacks, there’s no misuse of this technology, there’s zero scams, there’s zero all the other bad things that will happen[.]’”
“Because I think people will do tremendously — orders of magnitude more — good stuff than bad stuff,” he said.
Speaking to Politico, Altman said he favours a “lighter-touch regulatory stance” compared with the position taken by Anthropic.
He also said there was “a lot of daylight” between OpenAI and Anthropic’s respective positions. Anthropic Chief Executive Dario Amodei has called for greater government oversight of artificial intelligence and has raised concerns about risks associated with the technology’s development.
FTSE opens flat as National Grid raises its outlook and BT buys TalkTalk, while softer US jobs data supports markets and Brent crude falls.
Market Overview
The FTSE 100 opened broadly flat but slightly higher at 10,462.38, up 0.004 per cent from its previous close, as softer US employment data reduced expectations for another Federal Reserve rate rise. The Euronext 100 opened 0.03 per cent higher at 1,874.92, while Germany’s DAX gained 0.04 per cent to 25,241.91 as European equities attempted to recover amid easing US rate concerns. On Wall Street, the Nasdaq closed higher at 27,190.86 and the S&P 500 also finished higher at 7,722.72.
Commodity markets were mixed, with copper and gold higher while Brent crude and natural gas declined. Oil came under pressure as Middle East crude exports recovered and G7 countries prepared to release emergency reserves, although regional geopolitical risks remained in focus. Bitcoin edged lower against sterling. The pound strengthened against the Swiss franc and euro but weakened against the US dollar, Japanese yen and Australian dollar.
Earnings Outlook Raised – National Grid (LSE:NG.) National Grid expects FY2027 earnings growth to come in slightly above its previous guidance after a stronger first-half contribution from National Grid Ventures and other activities. The business is expected to contribute around £130 million more than previously anticipated, supported by one-off fair-value gains and stronger interconnector performance.
TalkTalk Acquisition – BT Group (LSE:BT.A) BT Group has acquired TalkTalk Telecommunications and PlatformX Communications out of administration on a debt-free basis, with an expected FY27 cash impact of approximately £400 million. The businesses serve around 2.5 million customers, while BT expects the operations to become value accretive over time as they are stabilised and integrated.
European equity markets moved higher on Monday after falling to three-month lows last week, as weaker-than-expected US employment data reduced expectations for another Federal Reserve interest-rate increase.
The pan-European STOXX 600 gained 0.4% in early trading following three consecutive weeks of declines.
Germany’s DAX rose 0.2%, while France’s CAC 40 was broadly unchanged. London’s FTSE 100 gained 0.7% and Italy’s FTSE MIB advanced 0.8%.
European markets followed gains across Asia-Pacific equities as investors reassessed the outlook for US interest rates following Friday’s nonfarm payrolls report.
US employment growth came in below expectations, while figures for the previous two months were revised lower.
According to CME’s FedWatch tool, markets were pricing an approximately 20% probability of a Federal Reserve rate increase at its October meeting, down from around 65% a week earlier.
US Treasury yields also declined from recent highs, providing support to equity sectors that are more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Middle East Developments Keep Energy Markets in Focus
Yemen’s internationally recognised, Saudi-backed government announced on Sunday the launch of a military campaign aimed at retaking territory controlled by Iran-backed Houthi forces.
Houthi forces subsequently claimed responsibility for ballistic missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Aramco energy facilities south of Riyadh.
The developments maintained market attention on potential risks to regional energy infrastructure and oil supplies, with Brent crude prices continuing to reflect concerns surrounding the conflict.
Eurozone PMIs and ECB Officials Awaited
Investors are awaiting preliminary September Eurozone Composite PMI figures for further indications of business activity across the region amid higher energy prices.
Attention will also turn to scheduled remarks from European Central Bank Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel and Chief Economist Philip Lane.
Markets will be monitoring their comments for indications of the ECB’s assessment of inflation, economic growth and the outlook for monetary policy.
