March 30 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 closed more than

1% higher on Monday, buoyed by mining and energy stocks as

commodity prices continued to rise on concerns about supply

shock due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed up 1.6%, while

the midcap FTSE 250 fell 0.05%. Both indexes however,

were on track for firm monthly losses.

* The Middle East conflict showed no sign of easing as

President Donald Trump warned that Iran's energy plants and oil

wells would be obliterated if it did not open the Strait of

Hormuz, after Tehran described U.S. peace proposals as

"unrealistic" and fired waves of missiles at Israel.

* Rio Tinto rose 3.4% 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. Industrial metal miners

rose 2.2%.

* Energy stocks climbed 2.3% to a record high

as crude oil prices remained elevated, with Brent crude headed

for a record monthly rise.

* Investors turned to defensive stocks, pushing up the

utilities sub-index 3.1% as they sought stability.

* The travel and leisure sub-index fell 0.1%,

on pace for double-digit monthly losses, as the Iran war raised

fuel-cost fears and disrupted key flight routes, threatening

profits.

* Britain's finance minister Rachel Reeves will urge G7

counterparts to avoid unilateral measures such as new trade

barriers during the Iran war, warning they could worsen energy

insecurity and disrupt global supply chains.

* British mortgage approvals rose by more than expected last

month and consumer credit grew at a faster pace than in January,

Bank of England data showed on Monday, ahead of a potential hit

from higher borrowing costs caused by the Iran war.

* A domestic fourth-quarter GDP rating and U.S. jobs report

for March will be released later this week.