London stocks are expected to open broadly flat on Tuesday as investors weigh a fresh escalation in fighting between the US and Iran alongside sharply higher oil prices and upcoming US inflation data.
FTSE 100 futures indicate little change at the open, with the index expected to remain close to Monday’s closing level of 10,498.29.
Wall Street ended lower overnight, led by a 1.6% fall in the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 dropped 0.8% and the Dow Jones declined 0.3%.
Asian markets were mostly higher on Tuesday, with Japan’s Nikkei gaining around 0.7%, the Shanghai Composite up 0.5% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rising 0.3%.
Brent crude surged to US$84.15 a barrel from US$79.42 late Monday as the US launched a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran and announced the reimposition of a blockade on Iranian ports.
US President Donald Trump said Iran would again be hit “hard” and described the US as the “guardian of the Hormuz Strait”.
US Central Command said the latest strikes were aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to attack civilians and commercial shipping in the strategically important waterway.
Despite the escalation, Trump said a deal with Tehran remained possible.
Currency markets were subdued, with sterling easing to US$1.3366 from US$1.3378 at Monday’s London close.
Gold rose to US$4,030.80 an ounce from US$4,015.30.
Investors are also awaiting US consumer price inflation figures after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said the central bank may need to consider raising interest rates if inflation remains above target.
Back in the UK, retail sales growth slowed in June, with total sales rising 1.9% year-on-year compared with 3.7% growth in May.
In Tuesday’s UK corporate calendar, Ashmore, Hunting, Robert Walters, IntegraFin and Watches of Switzerland are among the companies scheduled to issue trading updates.
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey is also due to speak.
