(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 18 mar - Shares in London closed lower as oil prices continued to rise amid lingering concerns over the conflict in the Middle East and as inflation in the US rose ahead of today's policy decision by the Federal Reserve.

US producer prices rose 0.7%, on an adjusted basis, month on month in February, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. While economists were expecting a 0.3% increase.

Crude prices resumed rising after Israel attacked Iran's largest gas processing facility in the Bushehr Province.

While Tehran threatened attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Among individual stocks, Diploma surged 17.79% at 5,925.00 pence after the company raised its full year outlook.

The London FTSE 100 closed down 0.94% at 10,305.29 points.

(RADIOCOR) 18-03-26 18:17:44 (0572) 5 NNNN