On Wednesday, U.K. stocks experienced a slight decline, though an uptick in oil prices buoyed energy shares.
The FTSE 100 benchmark index edged down by 0.1%, reaching 8,244, amid concerns about U.S. interest rates remaining elevated for a prolonged period. This followed a more significant drop of 0.8% on Tuesday.
BP Plc saw a 1.6% increase, and Shell gained 1.7%, benefiting from extended overnight oil price gains based on expectations that major oil producers will continue their output cuts in the upcoming meeting this Sunday.
Shares of BHP Group increased by 1.2% following reports that the mining giant has urged its competitor, Anglo American, to extend the impending deadline for a final offer on a proposed £39 billion merger.
International Distributions Services, the parent company of Royal Mail, surged by 3.4% after accepting a takeover bid from Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's conglomerate, EP Group.
