FTSE 100 Flat as Investors Await US Inflation Data, Balfour Beatty Hits Record High

The FTSE 100 index in London was largely flat on Wednesday, as investors waited for US inflation data to be released. The blue-chip index edged up by just 0.04% to 10,848.75 points.

However, midcap stocks performed well, with the FTSE 250 climbing 0.5% to a record high of 24,916.12 points. Balfour Beatty was one of the standout performers, jumping by 9.2% after the construction company raised its annual operating profit forecast.

The company cited strong demand for infrastructure projects in both the US and UK as the reason for its increased forecast. This helped lift midcap stocks overall, with other companies such as Anglo American and Rio Tinto gaining more than 1% each due to rising copper prices.