FTSE Edges Higher Ahead of ECB Rate Decision Amid Oil Price Concerns

The FTSE 100 rose by 0.06% as investors positioned ahead of the European Central Bank's rate decision on Thursday.

Oil prices remain high, and tensions in the Persian Gulf continue to be a concern after projectiles struck Iran's southern coastline, and several US military aircraft were damaged in Iranian ballistic missile strikes on an airbase in Jordan.

The ECB is widely expected to raise interest rates by 25 basis points across all three benchmark rates. Analysts at ING said current signals point to further escalation, which could tighten the oil market more sharply than recent weeks have implied.

Brent crude futures eased 0.37% to $100.89 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate for October slipped 0.23% to $95.83.