The FTSE 100 fell more than 1.5% on Monday to below 9,770, its lowest level in three months, as mounting tensions in the Middle East weighed heavily on risk appetite. The selloff followed fresh Iranian strikes across the Persian Gulf ahead of a US deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, sparking broad-based declines across the index.
Most sectors finished lower, with precious metals miners among the weakest performers as gold and silver prices retreated. Endeavour dropped more than 5%, while Fresnillo lost around 4%. Broader mining stocks, including Antofagasta, Glencore and Anglo American, also declined. Travel names EasyJet and IAG fell more than 3%.
Rolls-Royce shed 5% and BAE Systems slipped 2.8%, while major banks such as HSBC, Lloyds, Barclays and NatWest recorded moderate losses. Among energy majors, Shell eased about 1%, and BP was little changed.
