{"id":140935,"title":"FTSE 100 Ends Flat as Strong US Growth Clashes With Renewed Iran Tensions","publisher":"Share Talk","author":"sharetalk","published":"2026-09-23T16:18:33+00:00","modified":"2026-09-23T16:18:33+00:00","canonical_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-ends-flat-as-strong-us-growth-clashes-with-renewed-iran-tensions/","markdown_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-ends-flat-as-strong-us-growth-clashes-with-renewed-iran-tensions.md","json_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-ends-flat-as-strong-us-growth-clashes-with-renewed-iran-tensions.json","category":"Blogs","categories":["Blogs","Technology","Technology, Media & Telecoms"],"tags":["Asia","Bangkok","Denmark","Endeavour Mining","Fed","Federal Reserve","Finland","FRANCE","FTSE 100","GERMANY","Glencore","Greenland plan","Hong kong","Japan","London","Manila","mining stocks","Mumbai","Nasdaq Composite","NATO alliance","Netherlands","Nikkei 225","Norway","S&P 500","shanghai","Singapore","Sweden","Sydney","Taiwan","UK","United States","Wall Street"],"featured_image":"https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/b9515998-91c3-4e45-b508-9dbbb9af992d.png?fit=1727%2C911&quality=80&ssl=1","format":"news","language":"en-GB","content":"The **FTSE 100 ended little changed at 10,705.26 on Wednesday**, as unexpectedly strong US economic data was offset by renewed concern over the Middle East and a sharp rebound in oil prices.\n\nThe FTSE 250 fell **0.7% to 24,361.58**, while AIM slipped 0.3%. European markets were also weaker, with Germany’s DAX down 0.7% and France’s CAC 40 falling 0.4%.\n\nUS business activity provided an initial boost after the flash composite PMI climbed to **58.4 in September from 56.0 in August**, its highest reading in more than five years and well ahead of expectations. In contrast, the UK composite PMI slowed to **51.7 from 52.5**, signalling continued growth but at a weaker pace, while cost pressures intensified.\n\nThose gains faded after Iranian President **Masoud Pezeshkian** said at the UN that Iran would not surrender in its conflict with the US, while maintaining that Tehran still supported diplomacy. He also argued that access to the Strait of Hormuz could not operate on terms Iran regarded as one-sided.\n\n**Brent crude jumped to $102.74 a barrel**, up from $99.39 at Tuesday’s London close, reversing the earlier decline below $99. The move lifted **BP by 2.8% and Shell by 2.0%**, with BP also helped by a JPMorgan upgrade to overweight.\n\nElsewhere, **JD Sports fell 5.7%** after reporting lower first-half sales, profit and margins, although it maintained full-year guidance of £700 million to £800 million of adjusted pretax profit. Fresnillo dropped 3.5% and Endeavour Mining fell 2.6% as **gold declined to around $4,284 an ounce**.\n\nThe strongest moves came in the FTSE 250. **Ashtead Technology surged 54%** after receiving a 615p-per-share takeover approach from Ember Infrastructure Management, while Pollen Street jumped 13% after confirming it was considering strategic options including a potential takeover.\n\nFor investors, Wednesday’s session highlighted the market’s competing forces: **stronger US growth is supportive for earnings but also pushes bond yields higher**, while renewed Middle East tension has put the oil and inflation risk premium back into energy markets. The US 10-year Treasury yield rose to **5.08%**, leaving rates, oil and diplomacy as the key near-term drivers."}