(Updates after market close)

June 10 (Reuters) - UK's FTSE 100 closed higher on Wednesday

with energy and consumer staples stocks providing a lift, though

the index remained stuck near three-week lows as investors

monitored a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed 0.3% higher at

10,254.8 points, hovering near its lowest levels since mid-May.

The midcap FTSE 250 advanced 0.5%.

* Consumer staples majors Tesco ( TSCDF ) and Unilever

were among the biggest gainers, climbing over 2% each.

* Middle East tensions were high as the U.S. and Iran traded

fire.

* U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran had taken too long

to negotiate a deal and would "have to pay the price".

* Crude oil prices jumped after Trump's remarks and UK

energy stocks climbed 1.9%.

* WH Smith plunged 16.2% after cutting its annual

profit forecast for the second time in two months and launched

an equity raise to bolster its finances.

* Banks were among the biggest sectoral

decliners with a 1% fall.

* Shares of Hong Kong exposed HSBC ( HSBC ) and Standard

Chartered ( SCBFF ) each fell more than 1%.

* The lenders have been under pressure since Beijing

unveiled tighter capital controls to limit cross-border

investments.

* Inflation concerns have led investors to price in a 25

basis point interest rate hike by the Bank of England by

September, according to LSEG-compiled data.

* Elsewhere, water utility Pennon Group ( PEGRF ) slipped 1.7%

after its new CEO warned operational discipline must improve.

* EnQuest ( ENQUF ) shot up 27% after the North Sea-focused

oil producer agreed to buy interests in four offshore contracts

in Malaysia.