{"id":139331,"title":"FTSE 100 Set to Open Lower as Hormuz Tensions Return to Focus","publisher":"Share Talk","author":"sharetalk","published":"2026-08-10T06:37:56+00:00","modified":"2026-08-10T06:37:56+00:00","canonical_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-set-to-open-lower-as-hormuz-tensions-return-to-focus/","markdown_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-set-to-open-lower-as-hormuz-tensions-return-to-focus.md","json_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-set-to-open-lower-as-hormuz-tensions-return-to-focus.json","category":"Blogs","categories":["Blogs","Business & Support Services","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/2024/01/FTSE-100.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1","format":"news","language":"en-GB","content":"The **FTSE 100 is set to open lower on Monday** as renewed uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz weighs on sentiment after Iran ruled out reopening the key shipping route unless the US meets a series of demands.\n\nFutures indicate London’s blue-chip index will open around **30 points, or 0.3%, lower at 10,865.69**. The FTSE 100 closed 0.3% higher at 10,901.09 on Friday, completing its **fourth consecutive weekly gain**.\n\nIran’s Revolutionary Guards said the Strait of Hormuz would remain restricted until Washington complies with demands including compensation for war damage, the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen assets and an end to the US blockade of Iranian ports.\n\nUS President Donald Trump has meanwhile played down expectations of an imminent diplomatic breakthrough, reportedly saying Washington was only “semi-negotiating” with Tehran.\n\nThe renewed uncertainty pushed **Brent crude higher to $83.94 a barrel**, from $83.40 late Friday.\n\nSterling slipped to **$1.3487**, while the euro eased to $1.1550. US Treasury yields were broadly unchanged, with the 10-year yield at 4.65%.\n\n### UK Jobs Market Shows Signs of Improvement\n\nCloser to home, fresh figures from KPMG and the Recruitment & Employment Confederation provided some encouragement over the UK labour market.\n\nPermanent staff placements stabilised in July, with the relevant index rising to **50.0 from 49.1**, while temporary billings remained in expansion territory at 51.9.\n\nTemporary vacancies also increased for the first time in two years, accompanied by stronger pay growth for both permanent and temporary employees.\n\n### US Inflation Becomes Next Major Test\n\nInvestors are also looking ahead to Wednesday’s US inflation report following Friday’s surprisingly weak employment figures.\n\nUS nonfarm payrolls **fell by 23,000 in July**, compared with expectations for an increase of 80,000. Previous estimates for May and June were also revised sharply lower.\n\nThe weak jobs figures reduced expectations of another Federal Reserve interest rate increase and helped Wall Street finish Friday higher, with the **S&P 500 gaining 0.6% and Nasdaq Composite rising 1.3%**.\n\nAttention now turns to US consumer price inflation, which is expected to ease to **3.4% in July from 3.5% in June**.\n\nAsian markets were mostly positive overnight. Japan’s **Nikkei 225 jumped 2.1%**, China’s Shanghai Composite gained 0.1% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.6%, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.3%.\n\nChinese inflation figures showed consumer prices rising **0.5% year-on-year in July**, slowing from 1.0% in June and falling short of expectations.\n\nGold eased slightly to **$4,340.71 an ounce**, following Friday’s strong advance.\n\nWith the FTSE 100 ending last week just below the psychologically important **11,000 level**, developments around Hormuz and Wednesday’s US inflation figures are likely to provide the key direction for markets in the coming sessions."}