April 16 (Reuters) - UK's main stock indexes closed higher on Thursday, lifted by energy stocks, as doubts about lasting resolution in the Middle East sent oil prices higher.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the negotiation in Islamabad increased hopes for a second round of talks, though added that fundamental differences remained over its nuclear program.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed 0.29% higher at 10,589.99 points, while the midcap FTSE 250 rose 0.5%.
o Oil giants BP and Shell gained 3.9% and 1.2%, respectively, as Brent crude rose over 3%.
o Industrial metal miners rose 0.8%, tracking extended gains in base metals aluminium and copper.
o Rio Tinto rose 1.7%; Glencore and Anglo American up 0.5% each.
o Tesco climbed 4.7% even as the food retailer said profit outlook was clouded due to the Middle East conflict.
o The broader personal care, drug, grocery index was up 0.4%.
o Heavyweight banks dropped 0.3%; lender Natwest Group fell 1%; Barclays down 0.7%.
o Money manager Ashmore down 4.8% after the U.S.-Iran war led to net outflows.
o Construction group Morgan Sindall jumped 7.3% after lifting profit outlook, sending construction and materials index up 1.8%.
o EasyJet slips 5% after it warned of bigger first-half loss.
o Product testing firm Intertek jumped 9% after rejecting 7.93 billion pounds ($10.74 bln) buyout deal from Swedish private equity firm EQT AB.
(Reporting by Utkarsh Tushar Hathi; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)
