On Monday, London’s FTSE 100 experienced an uptick, buoyed by increases in mining and energy stocks that followed the rise in commodity prices. However, overall sentiment appeared tenuous as the conflict in the Middle East progressed into its fifth week. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index rose 0.6% as of 0921, while the midcap FTSE 250 fell 0.5%. Both indexes, however, were on course for significant monthly losses.

Rio Tinto opens new tab rose 3.5%, providing the biggest boost to the benchmark index after the mining giant said operations at three of its four Pilbara iron ore port terminals have resumed after Tropical Cyclone Narelle swept through Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, as the Israeli military reports that Iran has initiated several waves of missile strikes against Israel. Additionally, an attack has been executed from Yemen, marking only the second occurrence of such an event since the onset of the U.S.-Israeli war.

Energy stocks climbed 1.4% to a record high as crude oil prices remained elevated, with Brent crude headed for a record monthly rise. Britain’s finance minister Rachel Reeves will call on G7 counterparts to refrain from unilateral actions like imposing new trade barriers amid the Iran conflict, cautioning that such measures could exacerbate energy insecurity and disrupt global supply chains. The travel and leisure sub-index fell 1.1%, on pace for double-digit monthly losses as the Iran war raised fuel-cost fears and disrupted key flight routes, threatening profits.

Meanwhile, British mortgage approvals increased more than anticipated last month, and consumer credit expanded at a quicker rate than in January, according to data released by the Bank of England on Monday, in advance of a possible impact from elevated borrowing costs stemming from the Iran war. A domestic fourth-quarter GDP rating and U.S. jobs report for March are set to be released later this week.