FTSE 100 Dips Amid War Concerns and Inflation Data

The FTSE 100 index closed lower for the third straight day on Wednesday, weighed down by concerns over the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Investors were cautious as they waited for US inflation data, which showed consumer prices barely increased in July due to declining gasoline costs and benign underlying inflation.

This reduced the odds of an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve next month, with oil prices also falling in volatile trading after forecasters cut their projections for 2026 global oil demand.

Balfour Beatty, a construction group, soared to a record high after raising its annual operating profit forecast by 7%.