April 15 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 closed lower on Wednesday as healthcare and consumer-facing stocks weighed, while investors cautiously awaited developments in the Middle East.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index ended 0.5% lower, in its biggest one-day decline in over a week, while the midcap FTSE 250 slipped 0.3%.
* U.S. President Donald Trump said the war was close toover, as officials from mediator Pakistan arrived in Tehran. Aseparate report said the U.S. and Iran were weighing anextension to the ceasefire. * Oil prices were little changed on Wednesday, holding below$100 a barrel. British energy stocks inched 0.8% lower. * Banks pared most declines and closed 0.2% lower. Theywere the biggest drags earlier in the session. * Healthcare stocks, which were the biggest boostsearlier, dragged down the index, with GSK losing 2.7%. * The personal goods sector was hurt by a 2.2% drop inBurberry after results from its peers, Kering and Hermes,disappointed investors. * Precious metal miners were the biggest percentagedecliners, down 2.2%, as gold inched lower. * Investors also turned their attention to corporate updatesand earnings to see how companies approach tackling headwindsfrom the Middle East conflict. * Antofagasta said copper production was expected to risequarter-on-quarter through the year. The stock, however, paredearly gains to close marginally higher. * Saga climbed 6% after the over-50s holiday and insurancegroup said it was ahead of schedule to reach its medium-termprofit targets. * Britain's largest homebuilder, Barratt Redrow, slashed itsland spending and approval targets, but its shares were 3.5%higher.
(Reporting by Purvi Agarwal in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)
