The FTSE 100 opened marginally lower on Thursday morning, slipping to 10,487.89 as investors weighed a mix of corporate updates and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.
European markets offered a more positive picture, with the Euronext 100 gaining 0.16 per cent and Germany’s DAX advancing 0.44 per cent at the open.
Across the Atlantic, the Nasdaq closed the previous session higher at 25,870.65, while the S&P 500 finished lower at 7,482.71, reflecting a divided mood among US investors.
Sentiment remained cautious globally as markets continued to assess the fallout from the collapse of the US-Iran ceasefire, adding fresh uncertainty to an already tense geopolitical backdrop.
In currency markets, the US dollar strengthened slightly against sterling, while the Swiss franc, euro, Japanese yen and Australian dollar all edged firmer against the pound.
Bitcoin rose during the session, trading at £46,967.94 against sterling, while commodity markets were more subdued, with gold, Brent crude and natural gas all easing at the open.
Copper bucked the broader commodity trend and advanced, though oil prices continued to reflect the complex interplay of geopolitical risks and softer demand signals in the Middle East.
The headline corporate story of the morning was Centrica (LSE: CNA), which agreed a 20-year contract supporting the extension of the Sizewell B nuclear power station, a significant commitment to long-term low-carbon electricity generation in the UK.
The deal reinforces the UK government’s broader energy security strategy at a time when reliable domestic power generation has become an increasingly pressing national priority.
Computacenter (LSE: CCC) also grabbed market attention with a trading update revealing that first-half profit is expected to more than double compared with the same period in 2025, pointing to improving momentum across its technology services business.
The Computacenter update signals a strong performance turnaround and will likely draw investor interest given the scale of the profit growth forecast relative to the prior year.
Across the broader market, the mixed open reflects the tension between resilient corporate earnings news and persistent macro-level concerns, including geopolitical instability and shifting currency dynamics heading into the second half of 2026.