The FTSE 100 fell slightly on Wednesday, weighed down by corporate updates and a drop in oil prices that pressured energy producers.
AB Foods fell more than 3% after warning that its sugar division suffered further deterioration from the Middle East conflict, even as plans to spin off fashion retailer Primark progressed.
Also, Shell and BP declined 1.8% and 2.5%, respectively, on lower oil prices.
On the other hand, financial services stocks and defense heavyweights provided support.
Aerospace company BAE Systems added 1.7%, submarine contractor Babcock rose over 4.5%, and engine-maker Rolls-Royce went up 0.8%.
On the macroeconomic front, Nationwide reported that UK house prices remained flat on a monthly basis in June, missing growth expectations.
However, the annualized housing rate rose 2.2%, supported by a brighter market outlook as anticipated Bank of England interest rate hikes began to soften.