FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Drops for 3rd Session

The FTSE 100 slipped 0.2% on Wednesday, posting a third consecutive decline as investor sentiment remained fragile amid uncertainty surrounding US–Iran talks, mounting inflationary pressures and a series of mixed corporate updates. Reckitt Benckiser was among the weakest performers, falling more than 4% after reporting earnings that missed forecasts, exerting notable downward pressure on the index. JD Sports dropped about 2.8% following the announcement that chairman Andy Higginson will step down after the July AGM. Rolls-Royce retreated more than 3.5%, while BAE Systems lost around 1.5%. In the banking sector, HSBC Holdings, Barclays and NatWest slipped between 0.4% and 0.9%. By contrast, energy majors provided some support to the benchmark, with BP advancing 1.7% and Shell up 0.5%. Mining stocks also gained ground: Rio Tinto, Antofagasta and Anglo American each rose by around 2%, while Fresnillo added 1.7% after reaffirming its production guidance. On the macroeconomic front, UK inflation accelerated to 3.3% in March from 3% in February, driven largely by higher energy costs linked to the ongoing Iran-related conflict.