The FTSE 100 gave back early gains to close marginally lower on Tuesday as renewed concerns over technology valuations and the scale of investment in artificial intelligence weighed on global markets.
The blue-chip index ended 5.95 points lower, or 0.1%, at 10,650.33, having traded as high as 10,762.01 earlier in the session. The FTSE 250 edged higher to 24,339.19, while the AIM All-Share fell 0.5% to 771.16.
The pound strengthened against the dollar, trading at $1.3249, up from $1.3211. Against the euro, sterling firmed to €1.1834 from €1.1829. The euro rose to $1.1194, while the dollar slipped against the yen to ¥158.42.
On the FTSE 250, Entain rose 4.7% after its BetMGM joint venture reiterated full-year guidance following what it described as a strong third quarter.
BetMGM, jointly owned by MGM Resorts International and Entain, said it remained on track to deliver towards the lower end of its full-year guidance.
The company expects net revenue of between $2.9 billion and $3.1 billion, alongside adjusted EBITDA of $300 million to $350 million.
Entain, which also owns Ladbrokes and Coral, is due to report third-quarter results on Thursday.
Food manufacturer Greencore gained 2.4% after raising guidance for the second time in three months.
By contrast, Bytes Technology fell 5.0% after reporting half-year earnings.
Brent crude was quoted at $105.83 a barrel, down from $106.60 late on Monday. Gold traded at $4,163.06 an ounce, compared with $4,167.84 previously.
Among individual stocks, Melrose Industries surged 3.47%, placing it among the strongest performers on the FTSE 100.
The aerospace and defence group’s GKN Aerospace division is nearing a settlement of a civil investigation into its Garden Grove facility in California.
The proposed agreement includes $15 million in civil penalties, alongside a previously announced claims programme worth up to $100 million for eligible recipients.
Whitbread gained 2.15% after the Premier Inn owner strongly recommended that shareholders vote against a resolution proposed by activist investor Corvex at an upcoming shareholder meeting.
The hospitality group also reaffirmed its full-year outlook and five-year strategic plan.
At the other end of the index, London Stock Exchange Group fell 4.68% after confirming it is in talks to acquire credit information platform Octus from private equity group Permira for $3.5 billion.
LSEG said the proposed acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to group revenue growth, although investors reacted cautiously to the potential transaction.
Balfour Beatty also declined 3.63% after agreeing to sell its 50% stake in Gammon Construction to Jardine Matheson Holdings for £250 million.
Overall, the session left London markets little changed, with improving UK economic forecasts offset by weakness in several heavyweight stocks and declining oil prices.
