London’s FTSE 100 fell on Tuesday as oil’s advance towards $100 a barrel revived inflation concerns and pressured rate-sensitive shares, even as gains in energy producers and miners prevented a steeper decline.
The blue-chip index was down 0.6% at 10,816.59 by late morning, while the FTSE 250 slipped 0.24%.
BP rose 1.5% and Shell gained 0.7% as Brent crude approached $99 after fresh attacks on Saudi energy facilities.
Antofagasta and Glencore also advanced as copper reached a record, but banks and consumer stocks weakened ahead of UK and US economic data.
Brent’s latest surge has renewed concern that the Middle East conflict could keep global energy costs elevated.
Oil helps heavyweights but raises a bigger problem
The FTSE 100’s large energy weighting provided some protection as crude prices climbed.
BP and Shell were among the stronger blue-chip performers as renewed Middle East supply risks pushed Brent closer to $100.
The same move is less helpful for the broader market. More expensive energy risks keeping inflation elevated and could make central banks more cautious about borrowing costs.
Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, told AJ Bell last week that renewed conflict was keeping concerns over energy costs, inflation, debt and the resulting drag on growth firmly in focus.
Markets expect the Bank of England to leave rates unchanged at its September 17 meeting. UK July GDP data, due on Friday, will provide another read on the economy before that decision.
US PPI and CPI data later this week will also shape global rate expectations.
Copper gives miners another cushion
Mining shares offered the FTSE another pocket of support after copper hit a fresh record above $14,600 a tonne on the London Metal Exchange.
Antofagasta gained 3.6% and Glencore rose 1.2%, helping the industrial metals and mining sector add about 1%.
Copper prices have climbed roughly 17% this year as mine disruptions, tariff concerns and demand from power grids, data centres and electric vehicles tighten the market.
The rally helps the FTSE because miners and oil majors can offset weakness elsewhere.
But it reinforces the inflation problem facing the wider index, as higher commodity costs can squeeze companies outside the resources sector.
Dunelm slump highlights pressure on UK consumers
Domestic-facing stocks were among the weakest parts of the market. Banks fell about 0.8%, while personal goods lost 1.5% and retailers declined roughly 0.9%.
Dunelm tumbled more than 12% after warning that unusually hot weather had weakened early-year trading.
The retailer reported flat pretax profit of £211 million for fiscal 2026 and unveiled a three-year plan targeting £100 million of cost reductions alongside faster store expansion.
Deutsche Bank analysts had upgraded Dunelm to Buy only days earlier arguing that the market was giving too little credit to its strategic potential.
Tuesday’s reaction suggests investors are more focused on the immediate earnings pressure.
The wider backdrop is also soft. British Retail Consortium data showed total retail sales growth slowed to 0.7% in August from 1.3% in July, while non-food sales fell 0.8%.
The FTSE 100 is therefore caught between strong commodity shares and mounting macro pressure.
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