UK markets opened in mixed fashion on Wednesday as investors tracked geopolitical risks and awaited fresh US inflation data.
The FTSE 100 began the session unchanged at 10,844.19, while Germany’s DAX gained 0.19 per cent to reach 26,442.42 on the day.
The Euronext 100 edged marginally lower, slipping 0.01 per cent to 1,976.84 as European investors remained broadly cautious.
Wall Street closed on a softer note overnight, with the Nasdaq finishing at 26,445.45 and the S&P 500 declining to 7,728.20.
Escalating tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing Houthi strikes kept energy supply risks firmly in focus for traders across global markets.
Brent crude rose on those supply concerns, while copper and natural gas also moved higher, and gold dipped slightly in commodity trading.
Infrastructure group Balfour Beatty (LSE:BBY) raised its full-year 2026 guidance after first-half underlying profit from its earnings-based businesses increased 42 per cent.
The strong performance was supported by improved results across both UK and US operations, with higher expectations for profit growth, cash generation, and shareholder returns.
Betting and gaming company Evoke (LSE:EVOK) reported broadly stable first-half revenue, with online growth helping to offset the impact of retail closures during the period.
However, higher UK gaming duties weighed on profitability at Evoke, even as the company pursues efficiency measures and progresses toward the proposed Bally’s Intralot transaction.
On currency markets, the US dollar strengthened marginally against sterling to $1.3508, while the euro held steady at €1.1703 against the pound.
The Japanese yen and Australian dollar also edged higher against sterling, while the Swiss franc weakened slightly and Bitcoin rose to £47,118.43.
Investor attention across European markets remained split between corporate earnings updates and the broader macroeconomic backdrop ahead of US inflation figures later in the session.
