FTSE 100 Index Ends Marginally Higher Amid Middle East Tension

The FTSE 100 Index ended marginally higher on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, rising 10.95 points, or 0.1%, to close at 10,855.14. Trading remained cautious throughout the session, with the index fluctuating between gains and losses.

Market sentiment was pressured by geopolitical instability in the Middle East, specifically uncertainty regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Investors also remained cautious in anticipation of upcoming U.S. inflation data.

Sector performance was split. Mining stocks drove the gains, with Endeavour Mining rising 3.3%, Fresnillo increasing 3%, and Anglo American Plc gaining 1.6%. In contrast, retail and consumer stocks declined, led by Marks & Spencer, which shed more than 3%, followed by Burberry Group and Tesco.