The FTSE 100 fell more than 1% to a seven-week low on Wednesday as Brent crude surged to $101 a barrel, its highest level since May, amid renewed fighting in the Middle East. The US destroyed five Iranian crude-carrying tankers following an attempted strike on a US Navy warship, while Tehran fired missiles towards Jordan and warned vessels in the Persian Gulf. Energy stocks were among the few gainers, with Shell up 0.2% and BP rising 0.7%. Aberdeen Group edged lower after earlier gaining more than 2% following the appointment of Torbjorn Magnusson as chairman, subject to regulatory approval. Elsewhere, financials, consumer staples, industrials and materials came under heavy selling pressure. HSBC fell nearly 2%, while Unilever and BAT dropped 1.6% and 1.3%, respectively. Rolls-Royce declined 2.5%, Rio Tinto fell 1.5% and Glencore lost 1%. AstraZeneca was also under pressure, falling 1.8%.