Finance
FTSE indexes slip as middle east war keeps investors cautious
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 11, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 11, 2026
Quick Summary
FTSE 100 slipped about 0.6% and FTSE 250 dropped roughly 0.7% on March 11, 2026, as oil prices remained volatile amid persistent Middle East conflict. Cautious investor sentiment was compounded by mixed corporate earnings, including weak results from Legal & General and dividend cuts at Robert Walte
FTSE Indexes Decline as Middle East Tensions Affect Oil and Corporate Earnings
Market Overview and Key Drivers
March 11 (Reuters) - The UK's main indexes fell on Wednesday, as oil prices remained choppy on lingering concerns from the Middle East conflict, and some disappointing corporate earnings weighed.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 was down 0.6% by 1103 GMT, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 fell 0.7%.
Oil Prices and Energy Sector Performance
Brent crude rose to trade above $90 per barrel as markets doubted whether the International Energy Agency's reported plan for a record release of reserves, which caused oil prices to fall earlier in the session, could offset the supply disruption caused by the conflict.
Impact on Energy Stocks
The energy index gained 0.5%, with oil majors Shell and BP up around 0.5% each as crude prices rebounded. [O/R]
Broader FTSE 350 Sector Movements
Most other FTSE 350 sub-sectors traded lower.
Corporate Earnings and Stock Movements
Investors also assessed a slew of mixed corporate updates.
Notable Company Performances
Legal & General fell 5.5% after the insurer missed estimates for its full-year profit and reported a lower solvency ratio as CEO Antonio Simoes pursues an overhaul.
Robert Walters dipped 2.9% after the recruiter scrapped its final dividend for 2025 following a swing to an annual pretax loss due to a weak job market.
Balfour Beatty rose 7.3% after the construction group forecast a high-single-digit percentage rise in 2026 profit from operations, with a record order book heavy with UK power projects, including nuclear power.
Harbour Energy fell 8.7% after the oil and gas producer's third-largest shareholder, EIG Asset Management, sold about 60 million shares at a discount to the stock's Tuesday close.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi in Bengaluru; Editing by Harikrishnan Nair)
Key Takeaways
- •Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East—and doubts over the IEA’s planned record reserve release—kept oil prices fluctuating around $90/barrel, dampening FTSE performance (apnews.com).
- •Legal & General’s shares declined despite a 6% rise in core operating profit and a £1.2 billion buyback, as its Solvency II ratio fell to 210% from 232% (uk.marketscreener.com).
- •Robert Walters scrapped its final 2025 dividend after swinging to a pretax loss amid a weak jobs market, weighing on its shares; Balfour Beatty gained on a strong profit forecast and record UK order book; Harbour Energy dropped after EIG Asset Management sold about 60 million shares (apnews.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about FTSE indexes slip as Middle East war keeps investors cautious
1Why did the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 decline?
The indexes fell due to ongoing concerns over the Middle East conflict, volatile oil prices, and disappointing corporate earnings.
2How did oil prices react to the Middle East conflict?
Brent crude rose above $90 per barrel, as investors doubted if IEA's reserve release could offset supply disruption from the conflict.
3Which major UK companies impacted the FTSE indexes?
Shell, BP, Legal & General, Balfour Beatty, and Harbour Energy all saw significant share movements impacting the indexes.
4What contributed to Legal & General's stock decline?
Legal & General’s stock dropped after missing profit estimates and reporting a lower solvency ratio, during an ongoing business overhaul.
5What was notable about Balfour Beatty’s financial outlook?
Balfour Beatty forecast a high-single-digit percentage rise in 2026 profits, supported by a strong order book.
