FTSE 100 Flat, Balfour Beatty Reaches Record High Amid Middle East Tensions

The FTSE 100 index closed flat on Wednesday for the third straight day as investors remained cautious about the ongoing war in the Middle East and volatile oil prices.

Balfour Beatty, however, was a standout performer, surging to a record high after raising its annual operating profit forecast by 7%.

The blue-chip index closed at 10,833.15 points, down 0.1%, while the midcap FTSE 250 ticked up 0.1% to 24,814.88 points.

U.S. inflation data showed a benign underlying trend, reducing the odds of an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve next month.