{"id":139463,"title":"FTSE 100 falls for third day as Middle East tensions weigh","publisher":"Share Talk","author":"sharetalk","published":"2026-08-12T16:18:54+00:00","modified":"2026-08-12T16:18:54+00:00","canonical_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-falls-for-third-day-as-middle-east-tensions-weigh/","markdown_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-falls-for-third-day-as-middle-east-tensions-weigh.md","json_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-falls-for-third-day-as-middle-east-tensions-weigh.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","Wellington"],"featured_image":"https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FTSE-100-15-NOV-23.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&quality=89&ssl=1","format":"news","language":"en-GB","content":"The **FTSE 100 closed lower for a third consecutive session on Wednesday**, with investors remaining cautious over the Middle East conflict despite encouraging US inflation data.\n\nLondon’s blue-chip index slipped **11.04 points, or 0.1%, to 10,833.15**, while the FTSE 250 edged 0.1% higher to 24,814.88 and the AIM All-Share gained 0.6% to 803.93.\n\nUS inflation eased as expected, with annual CPI slowing to **3.4% in July from 3.5% in June**, while core inflation fell to 2.5%. Markets subsequently increased expectations that the Federal Reserve will leave interest rates unchanged at its September meeting.\n\nMiddle East uncertainty remained a significant influence on sentiment. Brent crude rose to around **$88.88 a barrel**, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining closed amid continuing disagreements between Washington and Tehran.\n\nGold strengthened to **$4,422 an ounce**, helping **Fresnillo** and **Endeavour Mining** gain 2.3% and 2.5% respectively.\n\nAmong individual stocks, **Balfour Beatty surged 7.1% to a record high** after raising its full-year guidance following stronger-than-expected first-half trading. **Ocado jumped 16%** after JPMorgan reiterated its positive stance and increased its price target to 290p.\n\nRetailers were among the session’s weakest performers. **Burberry fell 4.2%, Marks & Spencer 4.0%, Tesco 2.0% and Next 1.6%**, with Tesco also hit by a Shore Capital downgrade.\n\nInvestors now turn to Thursday’s **UK GDP figures**, alongside eurozone industrial production and US producer-price inflation data."}