* FTSE 100 down 0.4%, FTSE 250 down 0.4%
* ONS data shows UK's economy stalled in January
* HSBC ( HSBC ), Standard Chartered ( SCBFF ) hit by Middle East conflict
* Energy index rises as crude prices exceed $100 per
barrel
(Updates to market close)
By Tharuniyaa Lakshmi
March 13 (Reuters) - British stocks posted their second
straight week of losses on Friday, as the Middle East conflict
heightened fears about inflation andclouded the Bank of
England's monetary policy outlook.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 was down 0.4%, while the
mid-cap FTSE 250 fell 0.4%. Both indexes logged a second
week of losses, although the declines were less severe than last
week.
Markets braced for prolonged tensions as the U.S.-Israeli
war on Iran approached its third week, with Washington hardening
its stance and Tehran pledging to keep the Strait of Hormuz
shut.
Adding to the downbeat mood, data showed Britain's economy
stagnated unexpectedly in January after weak growth in the
preceding months, pointing to a loss of momentum even before the
war in Iran.
GDP showed zero growth in January. The median prediction in
a Reuters poll of economists was for a 0.2% month-on-month
increase.
"If the Strait of Hormuz re-opens by the end of March, the
economic fallout should be limited, but a prolonged closure and
persistently high energy prices pose the real risk," said
Jonathan Stubbs, analyst at Berenberg.
"Needing to avoid a depreciation in the pound that makes
inflation worse, the Bank of England would likely shelve
interest rate cuts for the rest of the year," Stubbs added.
Money markets have erased predictions of a March 19 rate cut
from the Bank of England, according to LSEG data.
Several big banks including BofA, Goldman Sachs ( GS ), Standard
Chartered ( SCBFF ) and Morgan Stanley ( MS ) have revised their forecasts to
predict a delay in easing by the BoE, now expecting the first
cut in the second quarter.
The heavily weighted UK energy index was up
1.1% with oil majors BP and Shell up 0.9% and
1.1% respectively, as Brent crude prices traded above
$100 a barrel.
HSBC ( HSBC ) and Standard Chartered ( SCBFF ) fell 1.2% and
3.2% respectively as both are heavily invested in the Gulf's
rise as a global finance hub, and have seen operations disrupted
as the Iran conflict rattles their Middle East ambitions.