The FTSE 100 edged down on Monday, weighed down by weakness in major consumer stocks, with Unilever and BAT declining 1.4% and 1%, respectively. The losses were partly offset by gains in energy shares, as Shell and BP rose 1.1% and 1.3% alongside higher crude prices. Investor focus remained firmly on developments in the US-Iran conflict, with tensions persisting after reports that the US had struck three Iranian oil tankers following attacks on US warships. Energy Secretary Chris Wright also warned that a new nuclear agreement with Tehran may not be reached soon, suggesting Washington could instead focus on eliminating Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Meanwhile, domestic data showed UK house prices fell 0.2% in August, pushing annual prices into negative territory for the first time since November 2023, according to Lloyds.