The FTSE 100 Index closed 25.4 points higher at 5,649.7 today despite the eurozone debt crisis continuing to trouble investors.
Banking shares rebounded from recent losses, with Lloyds Banking Group up 0.8p at 27.1p and Barclays ahead 2.8p at 186.4p.
A number of stocks were driven by broker notes and an upgrade for mobile phone giant Vodafone, which accounts for nearly 6% of the FTSE 100 Index by value, helped keep the market in positive territory.
Vodafone’s shares gained 1%, or 2.2p to 179.5p after Goldman Sachs said it was switching its rating from neutral to buy.
Topping the risers’ board, broadcaster ITV was up more than 2%, or 1.9p at 71.4p after Morgan Stanley improved its rating on the company amid hopes it has performed well over the important Christmas season.
Other big risers on the Footsie included Burberry up 47p at £12.50, Petrofac ahead 50p at £15.43, Amec 29.5p higher at £9.63 and WPP 21p better off at £6.90.
Man Group – down 8%, or 10.3p to 112.7p – was the Footsie’s biggest faller, hit by brokers’ caution over the sustainability of a recovery on equity markets and fears hedge fund managers could continue to suffer.
Other big FTSE 100 fallers included Essar Energy off 5.5p at 170.7p, Icap down 9.8p at 319.3p and Ashmore Group off 9.6p at 321.3p.
Outside the top flight, it was the end of the road for Blacks Leisure after the company finally confirmed plans to go into administration
It suspended shares at 1.375p, representing a market value of just over £1 million, after long-running restructuring efforts failed to save the group.
JD Sports Fashion rose 11%, or 67.5p to £6.60 amid reports it had bought Blacks i a pre-pack administration for £20 million. JD’s shares increased .
Johnson Service Group fell 5%, or 1.4p to 25.3p after it said full-year results were likely to miss City expectations.
Steven McKay , of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, highlighted Xcite Energy rising 3.7% to 91.5p and Premier Oil up 4.7% to 392.35p. Standard Life slid 0.5% to 200.9p and STV Group was 7.7% lower at 78.5p.