FTSE 100 Flat as Weak UK PMI Data Dampens Sentiment; Oil Rebounds

The FTSE 100 traded flat at midday on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, as weaker-than-expected U.K. PMI data weighed on market sentiment while a recovery in oil prices added a note of caution. The soft purchasing managers' index readings renewed concerns about the pace of U.K. economic activity, offsetting earlier support from energy stocks. Crude prices rebounded from their early lows, lending the market a mixed tone. Trading remained rangebound as investors weighed the downbeat data against firming commodity prices. No specific index level or company move was disclosed.