(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 21 apr - Shares in London closed lower as investors assessed the latest developments in US-Iran peace talks a day before a temporary ceasefire is due to expire.

US president Donald Trump said today he believed the US was 'going to end up with a great deal' with Iran to end the war, even as he said he did not expect to extend the ceasefire expiring Wednesday.

Meanwhile Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Tehran did not accept negotiations 'under the shadow of threats', and added the country had 'new cards on the battlefield.' Markets also reacted to data showing that in the three months from December 2025 to February 2026 the UK unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points compared with the preivous three months to 4.9%.

Among individual stocks, shares of Associated British Foods lost 2.68% at 1,834.50 pence after announcing plans to spin off its Primark retail chain.

The London FTSE 100 closed down 1.05% at 10,498.09 points.

(RADIOCOR) 21-04-26 18:16:24 (0709) 5 NNNN