Investing.com — British stocks traded mixed in volatile trade on Thursday as investors assessed escalating tensions in the Iran conflict and surging oil prices ahead of key central bank decisions.
At 03:30 ET (07:30 GMT), the was up 0.13%, while the fell 0.33% and the declined 1.11%. Sterling edged higher against the dollar, with GBP/USD trading at 1.3488.
Investor sentiment remained fragile after reports that the United States Central Command is preparing to brief Donald Trump on potential military action against Iran, raising fears of renewed conflict and prolonged disruption to global energy supplies.
dominated markets as concerns grew over continued blockades of Iranian ports and broader regional instability.
Focus now turns to policy decisions from the European Central Bank and the Bank of England later in the day. Both are expected to hold rates steady, though investors are watching for signals on future policy as energy-driven inflation risks mount.
This follows a divided decision from the Federal Reserve, which held rates unchanged but saw three policymakers vote to drop its easing bias, the most split outcome in decades. Chair Jerome Powell said he would remain in post as governor for now, as Kevin Warsh moves toward confirmation.
UK Roundup
warned of lower first-half profit after a 5% drop in Q1 like-for-like sales, hit by poor weather and a prolonged downturn in European construction demand.
reported a 19% rise in Q1 copper output to 199,600 tonnes, driven by stronger African grades, with its marketing unit on track to beat full-year guidance.
expects annual revenue growth and submitted a £1.4 billion investment plan to regulator Ofwat, targeting up to 4,000 supply chain jobs.
said it will overhaul its restaurant business, replacing remaining branded sites and warning of up to 3,800 job cuts across the UK and Ireland.
reaffirmed full-year forecasts, saying it expects to offset disruption from the Middle East conflict.
flagged rising supply costs linked to higher UK energy prices, with pressures expected to build into 2027.
maintained its 2026 outlook after a 52% surge in Q1 lending to £5.5 billion, driven by strength in corporate and SME segments.
beat Q1 sales forecasts with 3.8% underlying growth, supported by strong demand for its core brands, while maintaining full-year guidance despite macro uncertainty.