Oil prices remained high today, due to worries about the escalating violence in Gaza and how it could spread to neighboring countries. These prices boosted commodity stocks in the UK.

Miners also rose, tracking higher copper prices.

Among stocks, UK water supplier Severn Trent gained 1.2% after Jefferies upgraded the stock to buy from underperform.

United Utilities inched up 0.2% after Jefferies raised its price target to GBX 1200, but Ocado dropped 3.7% after Barclays lowered its recommendation to underweight.

Things to read today:

Bond market rout supports ECB pause, says Spanish central bank chief (Financial Times)

The Day I met the leader of Hamas: “We’re always ready for War” (The Times)

Middle East conflict threatens to trigger another Black Monday (TheDaily Telegraph)