UK shares dipped on Monday as concerns over a Middle East stalemate weighed on investors, who were also evaluating Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s commitment to lead. FTSE 100 index up 0.04% at 11:24 am; FTSE 250 down 0.27%.

Starmer aimed to calm rising dissent in his party, asserting he wouldn’t abandon ship to prevent a fresh political crisis in Britain. Labour lawmakers turned against him after the party faced its worst local election results in over 30 years. High fiscal pressures persist, regardless of the Labour leader, BofA Securities strategists noted, highlighting potential government pressure to aid households amid oil price shocks.

• Brent crude futures jumped 2.6% on Monday after President Trump called Iran’s response to a U.S. peace proposal “unacceptable.”
• British inflation climbed to 3.3% in March, up from 3.0% in February.
• Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has cautioned that policymakers will soon face a tough decision on raising rates.
• Auto stocks hit hard, dropping 4.3%.
• Personal goods sector drops 2.2%, driven by Burberry’s 2.3% decline.
• Compass Group shares jumped 2.5% after boosting its 2026 profit outlook, fueled by strong demand for workplace dining and new contract wins.
• Britain’s jobs market lost momentum in April, impacted by cost pressures from the Middle East conflict, according to an industry survey.