The FTSE 100 fell on Thursday as Brent crude approached $108 a barrel and renewed selling in global bonds intensified concerns over inflation and interest rates. UK 10-year gilt yields stood around 5.35%, close to the 19-year highs reached earlier this month. Energy stocks led the market, with Shell up 1.7% and BP gaining 2.6% as higher oil prices supported the sector. Banks declined, including HSBC at 0.8% lower and Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group each down about 0.5%. Defense stocks also weakened, with Rolls-Royce falling 1.4% and BAE Systems losing 1.6%, while Rio Tinto dropped 1.7% and Glencore slipped 0.6%. Brent’s rise followed remarks from an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader that the conflict with the US could expand to the Indian Ocean in a subsequent phase.