The FTSE 100 opened in negative territory on Tuesday, extending a broad-based global equity decline that has persisted since Monday's session.
The London benchmark faces dual headwinds: renewed security threats in the Strait of Hormuz and a continuing sell-off in technology stocks across Asian markets.
The geopolitical pressure stems from fresh strikes in the Strait of Hormuz, reviving concerns over shipping route exposure and energy flow disruptions.
This development follows a period of relative calm, with South Korean tankers recently exiting the strait as a ceasefire had temporarily eased shipping risk.
The return of active hostilities threatens to disrupt tanker routes and could weigh on energy and freight indices.
Simultaneously, global markets are grappling with a tech sector rout.