(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 15 apr - European shares closed mostly lower as investors assessed a slump in luxury stocks amid mixed signals from the Middle East.

Sentiment was supported by comments from US president Donald Trump, who suggested a deal with Iran may be close, helping to push oil prices slightly lower despite the continued naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

However, according to the latest news, Tehran has threatened to retaliate to the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by blocking shipping from the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Red Sea.

On the data front, industrial production in the eurozone rose by 0.4% in February compared with the previous month, according to Eurostat. The rebound follows a 0.8% monthly decline in January, though production remained 0.6% lower on an annual basis.

The London FTSE 100 closed down 0.47% at 10,559.58 points, the Frankfurt DAX rose 0.16% at 24,072.16 points, the Paris CAC 40 slipped 0.64% at 8,274.57 points, while in Milan the FTSE MIB shed 0.04% at 48,155.82 points, and in Madrid the.

IBEX 35 closed 0.52% lower at 18,190.74 points.

(RADIOCOR) 15-04-26 17:55:24 (0667) 5 NNNN