FTSE 100 Dips as Utility Slump Offsets Hopes for US-Iran Diplomatic Talks

The UK's FTSE 100 index fell 0.1% to 10,581.06 points, putting it on track to snap a three-week winning streak. The benchmark was primarily dragged down by a 2.7% slump in the utilities sector following reports that Finance Minister Rachel Reeves pledged to decouple gas and electricity prices. Major utility stocks, including National Grid and Severn Trent, led the decline, overshadowing earlier optimism regarding scheduled diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran. Conversely, the mid-cap FTSE 250 index rose 0.1%, remaining on course for its third consecutive week of gains. Investors are now weighing the impact of domestic fiscal policy shifts against the potential for geopolitical de-escalation to stabilize energy markets. This market movement highlights a shift in focus from international diplomacy to local regulatory risks within the energy sector.