Mining stocks led Footsie higher as metal prices rebounded.
The FTSE 100 advanced 55 points to 6,393, with the likes of Glencore, Anglo American, Fresnillo, Antofagasta and Randgold Resources at the top of the tree, after Chinese regulators announced a possible probe into short-sellers in local metals markets.
One miner that was decidedly not at the top of the tree – in fact, it was the worst performing blue-chip – was BHP Billiton (LON:BLT), down 2.4%, as doubts grow over its ability to sustain its juicy dividend, especially in view of the likely clean-up bill for the recent disaster at the Samarco mine in Brazil, where two tailings dams burst.
The United Nations confirmed that the mud slides that resulted from the dams bursting were toxic.
Also not invited to the party was National Grid (LON:NG.), down 1.5%, after it announced an adjustment to the conversion price of some bonds issued by its US arm.
Pedigree bitter brewer Marston's (LON:MARS) climbed 6% to 169p, on higher annual profits that it attributed to the success of its growing estate of new-build pub restaurants.
Among the minnows, Coal of Africa (LON:CZA) added 12% at 2.8p after it agreed to buy South African miner Universal Coal (ASX:UNV).
Investors hailed the refinancing deal for Trinidad-focus LGO Energy (LON:LGO), chasing the shares up 10.5% to 0.53p.
Signs of a much sharper focus on sales at Cloud-based video editing platform developer Forbidden Technologies (LON:FBT) were reinforced today, as the company unveiled a new contract win for its Forscene video editing software via United States based distributor Key Code Media, in conjunction with Technicalogy Inc.
The shares hardened by a halfpenny to 6.375p.
EKF Diagnostics (LON:EKF), down almost 28%, was one of the day’s big fallers, as it warned of significant impairment charges following a review of the business by its new chairman, Ron Nigerian.
Full-year results will be affected by a number of one-off, he warned.
NAHL Group (LON:NAH), which runs the national accident help line, saw its share price crash to 295p from 389.5p overnight, in the wake of yesterday's Autumn Statement from the UK's finance minister, which raised concerns over the effects of changes to personal injury claims.