Hopes of a plan to tackle the eurozone debt crisis buoyed stock markets today as banks and miners made strong gains.
London’s FTSE 100 Index closed 33.2 points ahead at 5,857.5, with investors optimistic that European leaders were moving closer to a policy response.
The flight to risk meant mining stocks dominated the top flight risers board, with Fresnillo leading the way with a rise of 87p to £15.81 and Vedanta Resources was 41.5p higher at 966.5p.
Embattled banks were also on the front foot, with Barclays ahead 6.2p at 197.1p.
Oil giant BP was a high-profile faller however, off 1.4p at 450.7p, while Royal Dutch Shell dipped 0.5p to £23.39.
In corporate news, housebuilder Persimmon was down 1%, even as its half-year profits figure came in higher than the City had expected. Shares were 8p lower at 697p, while rival Redrow was off 0.5p at 141.8p.
H&T Group, the UK’s biggest pawnbroker, was under pressure after pre-tax profits fell by 27.2% to £7.5million in the six months to June 30. Shares were off 5.5p at 288p.
The biggest Footsie risers included Polymetal International up 40p to 967p and Eurasian Natural Resources up 13.2p to 370.2p.
The biggest Footsie fallers were Morrisons down 3.4p to 281.6p, Ashmore Group off 3.4p to 352p, Centrica down 3.1p to 326p and Severn Trent down 12p to £17.33.
Barry Shepherd, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, noted that Royal Bank of Scotland jumped 2.5% to 237.5p, Petrofac added 1.8% to £14.98 and Weir Group moved 1.5% higher to £17.76.
On the fallers board Johnston Press slipped 7.3% to 6.25p and Premier Oil closed 0.95% lower at 388.1p.