April 15 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 was muted on Wednesday as declines in heavyweight financials and energy stocks limited gains in healthcare stocks, while investors cautiously awaited developments in the Middle East conflict.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was flat at 10,611.03 points by 0957 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 slipped 0.1%.
* Investors assessed conflicting signals around the Iranconflict as U.S. President Donald Trump said peace talks couldresume this week even as Washington halted Tehran's maritimetrade. * Oil prices were little changed on Wednesday, holding below$100 a barrel. British energy stocks inched 0.1% lower. * Financial stocks were the biggest drags on the FTSE 100,with banks down 0.4% and life insurers off 0.8%. HSBC andPrudential shed 0.6% and 1.8%, respectively. * On the flip side, healthcare stocks gained, withAstraZeneca up 1%. * The personal goods sector was the biggest percentagedecliner, dragged by a 1.3% drop in Burberry after results frompeers Kering and Hermes disappointed investors. * Comments from Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey willbe parsed later in the day. * Investors also turned their attention to corporate updatesand earnings to see how companies approach tackling headwindsfrom the Middle East conflict. * Antofagasta topped the FTSE 100 with a 2.9% gain after itsaid copper production was expected to rise quarter-on-quarterthrough the year * Saga climbed 10.7% after the over-50s holiday andinsurance group said it was ahead of schedule to reach itsmedium-term profit targets. * Britain's largest homebuilder Barratt Redrow slashed itsland spending and approval targets, but its shares were 1.6%higher.
(Reporting by Purvi Agarwal in Bengaluru)
