{
  "id": 7300643,
  "title": "FTSE 100 today: Stocks gain as Mideast supply fears lift oil",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/ftse-100-today-stocks-gain-as-mideast-supply-fears-lift-oil",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-14T10:50:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Investing.com",
    "slug": "investing-com",
    "url": "https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/ftse-100-today-stocks-gain-as-mideast-supply-fears-lift-oil-4898877"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "British stocks surged on Monday as concerns about potential oil supply disruptions in the Middle East sent crude prices soaring, despite a challenging economic climate in Europe. The FTSE 100 index gained 0.8%, bouncing back from a recent multi-month low. The British pound weakened against the US dollar, dropping 0.22% to reach 1.3497.\n\nOman's scheduled meeting with Gulf states and Iran to discuss managing the Strait of Hormuz was postponed due to the need for consensus. This decision, according to ING's commodities strategists, further delays any chances of de-escalation. The delay also comes after Saudi Arabia shut down its 7 million barrel-per-day East-West pipeline, a crucial bypass route for Saudi oil exports disrupted by recent attacks on the kingdom's energy infrastructure.\n\nThe uncertainty surrounding the extent and duration of the pipeline shutdown has raised concerns and nudged the outlook closer to a more negative scenario. However, ING remains cautious and continues to project a base case of Brent crude averaging $80 per barrel in the fourth quarter, as there is still significant oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz.\n\nAccording to Reuters ship-tracking data, transit through the Strait of Hormuz dropped to single digits over the weekend, down from a 10-day average of 14. Additionally, US Central Command reported the redirection of over 100 commercial vessels under its blockade of Iranian ports, reinstated in July.\n\nOn the domestic front, Prime Minister Andy Burnham is hosting a roundtable of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and local mayors at Downing Street to emphasize his government's commitment to economic growth. Burnham highlighted Britain's strengths, such as talented people and world-class universities, but stressed the need for a cultural shift in how Britain conducts business. He announced plans to reindustrialize the country, emphasizing the importance of supporting companies that take risks, start new ventures, and generate jobs and innovative ideas.\n\nThe event precedes Chancellor John Healey's first budget on October 28, which will be developed amidst rising borrowing costs and the economic impact of the Iran conflict. ING pointed out that the International Energy Agency's (IEA) latest oil market report suggests a more aggressive reduction in 2026 demand forecasts, now expecting global oil demand to fall by 2.5 million barrels per day year-over-year, a sharper decline than previously anticipated.\n\nFurthermore, ING noted tightness in middle distillate markets, with ICE gasoil crack reaching fresh record highs near $84 per barrel and US diesel crack above $110 per barrel. This squeeze is attributed to Russia's diesel export ban and pressure from Washington urging Ukraine to halt refinery strikes. Brent crude futures rose 3%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed 2.8% to $102.81. London-listed miners like Antofagasta and Rio Tinto experienced declines following weakness in metal prices.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "FTSE 100 gains 0.8% amid Middle East oil supply fears",
    "Oman-Iran meeting postponed, delaying potential de-escalation",
    "Brent crude futures rise 3%, WTI climbs 2.8% to $102.81"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "UK's FTSE 100 rises as oil stocks gain; key announcements in focus",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/uks-ftse-100-rises-as-oil-stocks-gain-key-announcements-in-focus",
        "published": "2026-09-14T11:40:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}