FTSE 100 Flat Ahead of US Inflation Data, Balfour Beatty Soars to Record High

The FTSE 100 index in London was largely flat on Wednesday, ahead of US inflation data that is expected to show consumer prices increased moderately in July. This could reduce expectations for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this year.

The blue-chip index edged up 0.04% to 10,848.75 points by 1014 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 climbed 0.5% to 24,916.12 points and is on track to close at a record high.

Balfour Beatty, a British construction group, jumped 9.2% after raising its annual operating profit forecast due to strong demand for infrastructure projects in the US and UK. This helped lift midcap stocks, while mining giants Anglo American and Rio Tinto gained over 1% as copper prices edged up.