European mining and energy share indexes hit 12-year lows

LONDON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - European basic resources andenergy share indexes slumped to their lowest levels in more than12 years on Wednesday, with a sharp decline in oil and metalsprices scaring investors away from commodities stocks.

The STOXX Europe 600 Basic Resources index fell 4.2percent, while the region's oil and gas index slipped3.8 percent, with both touching their lowest levels since 2003.

Shares in commodities-related companies such as BHP Billiton, Anglo American. Glencore and RoyalDutch Shell fell between 5.7 percent and 7 percent.

The basic resources index has fallen more than 20 percent injust three weeks of 2016 after slumping 35 percent in theprevious year. The oil and gas index is down 13 percent so farthis year after falling 8 percent in 2015. (Reporting by Atul Prakash; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)