US shares were heading back north on Wednesday after the sell-off the day before after good economic data and a surge in the US dollar.
Positive business investment data on Tuesday was welcomed yesterday by markets but renewed fears a Federal Reserve interest rate hike could be sooner than anticipated.
Today, the Dow Jones added 88 points to 18,132, while the broader S&P500 added 10 points to 2,115.
The Nasdaq added 35 points to 5,067.
Also in focus yet again is the Greek default and euroexit issue as the clock continues to tick. Talks are ongoing but reportedly not making any headway.
The country not making its payment to the International Monetary Fund next month is becoming more likely, denting sentiment.
The US has urged European negotiators not to miscalculate because the cost of a Greek exit from the euro zone is impossible to predict.
Meanwhile back in London, FTSE100 added 1.15% to 7,028.63 and looked like it was holding back above the 7,000 level.
Fags maker Imperial Tobacco (LON:IMT) topped the index, up 3.47% to 114p.
The firm agreed to buy Reynolds American's Winston, Kool, Salem and Maverick brands.
IMPS is benefiting from the Reynold-Lorillard merger as the new combined company has had to sell off some parts of the business. IMPS' shares rose 2.2% to 3,354p.
In other merger news, Irish building materials firm CRH (LON:CRH) added 3.43% confirmed after the market closed yesterday it has closed the deal with Lafarge and Holcim to buy some of their assets, subject to the merger between the two European cement giants going ahead.