-- London's FTSE 100 closed Wednesday's trading session 0.47% in the red amid a fresh batch of corporate updates and expectations of renewed talks between the US and Iran.
"Last night, President Trump said talks to end the war could resume within two days; Iranian officials said discussions could continue this week, although a senior Iranian official noted no date has been set yet," Danske Bank said. "It would be a surprise if the talks lead to a permanent ceasefire, with the most likely scenario being an extension of the current ceasefire, if the US and Iranian officials meet again over the weekend or early next week."
The UK economic data calendar was empty for the day, with market watchers awaiting the release of the country's February gross domestic product, industrial and manufacturing production, and construction output figures on Thursday.
In corporate news, residential developer Barratt Redrow (BTRW.L) was among the blue-chip index's top risers, gaining 3.48% at closing.
Barratt Redrow reported a 12.8% annual increase in fiscal third-quarter total forward sales, including joint ventures, to 3.54 billion pounds sterling as of March 29. Total home completions during the period, on the other hand, declined to 3,274 from the year-ago 3,717. For fiscal 2026, the company said it is on track to achieve its total home completion target of between 17,200 and 17,800 homes and adjusted profit before tax in line with consensus forecasts.
Meanwhile, British insurance company Standard Life plc (SDLF.L) added 2.13% as it agreed to purchase its Dutch peer Aegon's UK business for a total consideration of 2 billion pounds. Under the deal, Aegon will receive 750 million pounds in cash and a 15.3% stake in Standard Life upon completion, which is expected to take place around the end of 2026.
"Overall, we think the transaction will accelerate Standard Life's transition to capital light earnings, while creating further scale in the structural growth opportunity of DC pensions and providing an additional foothold in the UK advice market. The valuation is accretive to SDLF, being acquired on a trailing SII UT1 of 0.83x vs SDLF's multiple of 1.63x," analysts at RBC Capital Markets said. "Crucially, the transaction and associated financing incrementally enhances the [Solvency II] ratio (from 174% at FY25) and the leverage (towards the 30% target)."