FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Edges Up Slightly

On Wednesday, the FTSE 100 registered a modest increase, driven by investor attention on ongoing Middle East tensions and anticipation of the Bank of England's impending interest rate decision scheduled for Thursday. This follows a slight decline in UK inflation to 3.4%. A surge in Burberry's share price provided a boost to market sentiment, as the luxury fashion brand reported better-than-anticipated sales, invigorating hopes for a successful business turnaround. Meanwhile, the market was abuzz with M&A speculation surrounding TSB, with potential interest from NatWest and Santander. However, overall market gains were restrained by disappointing earnings elsewhere. Experian, a leading credit data company, saw a decline of up to 2.6% after its growth outlook failed to meet expectations. Additionally, Imperial Brands experienced a significant drop of as much as 8.3% — its sharpest fall since May 2020 — following the unexpected departure of its CEO.