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* FTSE 100 down 0.2%, FTSE 250 up 0.3%
* Rotork ( RTOXF ) jumped after ABB announced a $5.5 bln takeover
* Technology stocks led losses
* Ocado ( OCDGF ) hits 13-year low on U.S. partner concerns
By Tharuniyaa Lakshmi
July 16 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 edged lower on
Thursday as escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran
dampened risk appetite, while weakness in technology stocks
added to the pressure on the index.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index fell 0.2% to 10,492.99
points by 1038 GMT.
* Iran said that the Strait of Hormuz was an inviolable "red
line", warning that if U.S. President Donald Trump carried out
his threat to attack Iran's infrastructure, it would strike all
infrastructure across the Gulf region.
* Technology stocks led losses, with data and
technology firm Experian ( EXPGF ) falling 2.3% after reporting
in-line first-quarter results and maintaining its annual
outlook, while peer Relx ( RELX ) was down 1%.
* While the FTSE 100 remained under pressure, the midcap
FTSE 250 rose 0.3%, helped by a 66.8% jump in Rotork ( RTOXF )
after Swiss engineering group ABB announced a
$5.5 billion takeover of the British automation company.
* Meanwhile, Britain's economy eked out minimal growth in
May as the services industry expanded but other sectors shrank,
suggesting fragile confidence among businesses against the
backdrop of the Iran war and a change of prime minister at home.
* "The UK might have delivered the fastest growth in the G7
at the start of the year, but it's a low bar. And the UK's high
levels of debt make it particularly vulnerable to further
inflation shocks which may result from continued conflict in the
Middle East," said Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at
AJ Bell.
* Among other stocks, Ocado ( OCDGF ) tumbled 18.8% to a
13-year low after the British online grocery and technology
group failed to show tangible progress in talks to secure new
U.S. partners to boost its business to effectively compete with
rapid delivery firms.
* Frasers Group ( SDIPF ) fell 5.4% after the British
retailer declined to provide fiscal 2027 outlook.