(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 14 set - Shares in London closed higher as investors sought shelter in the blue-chip index's heavyweight energy, healthcare and consumer-staples companies.

BP and Shell gained 1.17% at 571.20 pence and 0.87% at 3,582.00 pence, respectively, as oil prices continued to rise following further attacks on Middle Eastern energy infrastructure and shipping, including a drone strike on Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline. A planned meeting between Iran and Gulf countries over maritime security was also postponed.

While GSK gained 4.74% at 1,854.50 pence after reporting encouraging late-stage data for its lung-cancer treatment Investors are also looking ahead to this week's Bank of England meeting.

The BoE is expected to leave Bank Rate unchanged, but the sustained energy shock has increased speculation that policymakers may eventually need to tighten further if higher oil and gas prices begin feeding into broader inflation.

Among individual stocks, shares in the London Stock Exchange Group rose 2.86% at 8,474.00 pence after Euronext's chief executive revived the possibility of a future merger with Deutsche Boerse.

The London FTSE 100 closed up 0.44% at 10,697.57 points.

(RADIOCOR) 14-09-26 18:19:13 (0486) 5 NNNN