FTSE 100 today: Stocks gain as UK GDP beat offsets tech rout

On Thursday, British stocks experienced a modest gain as a robust UK GDP report counterbalanced a downturn in the technology sector and elevated U.S. inflation rates. The FTSE 100 index saw a slight uptick of 0.06%, while the CAC 40 in France increased by 0.05% and Germany's DAX declined by 0.40%. The British pound also saw a 0.44% rise, trading at $1.3250 against the dollar.

The UK economy exhibited a solid performance, expanding by 0.1% in August, surpassing expectations for a 0.1% contraction. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that the quarterly growth rate stood at 0.7%, exceeding the 0.5% forecast, and the annual growth rate reached 2.1%. Computer programming emerged as the leading contributor to growth during the three months ending in August.

Iranian officials maintained their stance on the ongoing conflict with the United States, emphasizing that Tehran would persist in its resistance until Washington accedes to its demands. Meanwhile, maritime incidents near the Strait of Hormuz intensified, with two vessels sinking and attacks on shipping vessels surging to their highest level since the conflict began in February. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected that Gulf economies would take considerable time to regain their pre-war economic trajectory.

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed during a rally in Arizona that the United States had gained full control over the Strait of Hormuz, predicting a swift end to the war. However, the situation remained tense, with attacks on shipping vessels mounting and Iran attributing the impasse to Washington's blockade of its ports. Additionally, Houthi militants targeted Saudi Arabian airports, adding to the geopolitical turmoil.

Financial markets also reflected the prevailing uncertainty, with the U.S. core Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising by 0.3% in September, slightly above the anticipated 0.2%. Energy prices, particularly crude oil futures, experienced a slight decline, with Brent crude futures falling 1.83% to $104.07 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropping 1.24% to $93.91. Despite these fluctuations, gold prices showed resilience, with spot gold rising 0.93% to $4,143.26 an ounce.