{"id":45050,"date":"2024-03-20T09:08:32","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T09:08:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/2024\/03\/20\/ftse-100-modestly-lower-after-inflation-data\/"},"modified":"2024-03-20T09:08:32","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T09:08:32","slug":"ftse-100-modestly-lower-after-inflation-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/2024\/03\/20\/ftse-100-modestly-lower-after-inflation-data\/","title":{"rendered":"FTSE 100 Modestly Lower After Inflation Data"},"content":{"rendered":"
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U.K. stocks were slightly lower on Wednesday ahead of the Fed’s interest-rate decision later in the day and the Bank of England policy meeting on Thursday. <\/p>\n

The British pound traded weak after data showed U.K. consumer price inflation weakened in February to the lowest since 2021.<\/p>\n

The consumer price index registered an annual growth of 3.4 percent, slower than the 4.0 percent rise in January. <\/p>\n

The rate was the lowest since September 2021. Prices were expected to climb 3.5 percent.<\/p>\n

On a monthly basis, consumer prices gained 0.6 percent, offsetting January’s 0.6 percent fall.<\/p>\n

The benchmark FTSE 100 was down 14 points, or 0.2 percent, at 7,724 after adding 0.2 percent the previous day. <\/p>\n

In corporate news, insurance and asset management giant Prudential declined 2.3 percent despite reporting strong growth in new business<\/span> over 2023.<\/p>\n

Braemar rallied 3.7 percent as the shipbroker retained its 2024 profit and revenue guidance. <\/p>\n

Johnson Matthey soared 7.5 percent. The company has agreed to sell its medical device components business to Montagu Private Equity for $700 mln in cash. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n