London stocks are set to open lower on Thursday after renewed US-Iran hostilities reignited concerns over stability in the Middle East and the security of global energy supplies.
Futures indicate the FTSE 100 will open around 61 points lower, or 0.6%, at 10,444.11 after the index closed marginally higher at 10,505.01 on Wednesday.
Tensions escalated after the US launched a second round of strikes against Iranian targets this week, prompting retaliatory action from Tehran.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported that Iranian forces fired at four vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, while US officials confirmed strikes against a ground control facility near Bandar Abbas.
American forces also said they had intercepted four Iranian attack drones near the Strait, while Kuwait reported its air defence systems were responding to what it described as an “enemy” attack.
The renewed military activity cast fresh doubt over the durability of any potential US-Iran agreement and raised concerns that reopening the Strait of Hormuz may prove more complicated than previously anticipated.
Brent crude edged higher to around US$97.31 a barrel on Thursday morning as traders reassessed geopolitical risk premiums following the latest escalation.
Overnight on Wall Street, US equities finished modestly higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 0.4%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite posted smaller gains.
Asian markets were mixed on Thursday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 down 0.6% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index falling 1.5%, while mainland Chinese equities edged higher.
Gold prices weakened modestly as investors balanced safe-haven demand against easing inflation expectations linked to softer oil prices earlier in the week.
