Highlights
- FTSE 100 set to open 20 points lower
- Brent prices jump as Trump weighs Iran strikes
FTSE 100 set to slide as oil spike reignites inflation fears
Reports that Donald Trump is weighing strikes on Iran have sent crude prices sharply higher, putting fresh pressure on global equities.
London's blue-chip index is set to open around 20 points lower Thursday, according to spread betting firms.
The move tracks losses on Wall Street, where all three main indexes fell after hours, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both slipping from recent records.
Oil prices jumped more than 1.5% after The Atlantic reported that the White House had asked the Pentagon to draw up options to strike sites in Iran ahead of next month's midterm elections on November 3.
Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbed to $101.95 a barrel.
The surge has reignited inflation fears and pushed government bond yields to multi-year highs, adding to pressure on rate-sensitive stocks.
Asian markets followed Wall Street lower, with Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney all closing well in the red.
