The FTSE 100 was little changed on Monday, trading near a three‑week low as investors prepared for a busy week of central bank meetings. Oil prices moved higher, with Brent crude climbing above $107 per barrel amid an ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and limited progress in US‑Iran negotiations over the weekend. Energy heavyweights Shell and BP rose roughly 0.5% to 0.7%.
Media reports indicated that Iran has floated a proposal to reopen the Strait and temporarily suspend nuclear talks, though no concrete steps have yet been taken. Investor focus is now turning to upcoming policy decisions from the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, Bank of Canada and Bank of England. The new earnings season is also getting under way, with results due from Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest Group, as well as AstraZeneca, GSK and Unilever.
