FTSE 100 Live: Blue-chip index opens lower, UK inflation softens but oil price keeps rising

The FTSE 100 opened modestly lower as markets showed little conviction across sectors, with the index down 14 points to 10,572 in early trading. Among the biggest decliners were Games Workshop, Entain, Sage, RELX and 3i Group, while precious-metals miner Endeavour Mining led gainers, up 2%. Oil prices supported several risers: Brent crude rose 2.6% to $93.35 a barrel, lifting BP and Shell. In company updates, Greencore upgraded profit guidance after stronger-than-expected trading, supported by early contribution from its takeover of Bakkavor, while manufacturing volumes grew 0.7% versus a grocery market contraction of 0.4%. Mulberry reported narrower pre-tax losses to £8.9 million from £32.2 million and revenue growth to £125.5 million. Separately, Bloomsbury said it expects cash from a $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement approved by a U.S. district court, covering 14,087 titles. JD Wetherspoon issued a profit warning citing cost pressures, and UK CPI was reported easing to 2.6% year-on-year from 2.8%.