On Tuesday, U.K. stocks exhibited a cautious stance as investors opted for a wait-and-see approach ahead of the parliamentary elections set for Thursday. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party is predicted to encounter significant opposition.
Market participants also digested data indicating a decline in U.K. shop prices from May to June, with prices showing minimal change compared to the previous year.
The FTSE 100 index dipped 13 points, or 0.2%, settling at 8,153 after a slight gain on Monday.
In the corporate sphere, shares of Endeavour Mining gained 0.5%. The company announced the successful early gold production from its Lafigue mine in Côte d'Ivoire, achieved on June 28, a full quarter ahead of schedule.
Conversely, J Sainsbury's shares dropped by 2.2% following the supermarket chain's report that adverse weather conditions had negatively impacted recent volume growth.
Meanwhile, Monks Investment Trust experienced a modest uptick after revealing robust year-end financial results.
