Stocks were under pressure and oil climbed as Iran’s new supreme leader ordered the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane to remain closed.

The FTSE 100 index closed down 58.47 points, 0.6%, at 10,353.77.

The FTSE 100 index closed up 162.72 points, 1.6%, at 10,412.24.

The FTSE 100 index closed down 35.23 points, 0.3%, at 10,249.52.

Donald Trump urged Tehran to strike a ‘meaningful’ deal.

The FTSE 100 index closed up 130.01 points, 1.2%, at 10,686.18.

The index closed up 82.48 points, 0.8%, at 10,556.17.

Defence stocks were higher after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Britain must ‘go faster’ on defence spending.

Stock prices in London closed in the red on Wednesday at the end of a shortened trading day.

The FTSE 100 Index closed up 74.18 points at 9,940.71

International Personal Finance led the way on the FTSE 250 index as its shares jumped 5.9% on news of a takeover.