A positive session for corporate earnings ensured the FTSE 100 Index made progress despite a poor performance from heavyweight oil companies.
Shares in Imperial Tobacco, Primark owner Associated British Foods and Legal & General were all higher after posting well-received figures.
The FTSE 100 Index, which closed sharply lower on Monday due to disappointing manufacturing data in a number of countries, was 16.9 points higher at 6505.2.
This came despite the impact of an overnight fall in the price of oil, which left BP 5p lower at 438.75p and Royal Dutch Shell down 33.5p to 2248.5p.
Imperial Tobacco was the biggest riser in the top flight – up 3% or 85p to 2752p – after it reported a 5% rise in full-year operating profits to £2billion and said it had seen stronger performances from its growth and specialist brands.
AB Foods was 7.5p higher at 2678.5p after it grew annual profits at Primark by 29% to £662million following a “magnificent” year for the retailer.
Overall, adjusted pre-tax profits at the conglomerate, which owns Ryvita and Ovaltine, lifted 2% to £1.1billion as lower prices at its sugar division were offset by growth in its grocery, agriculture and ingredients units.
Marks & Spencer, which is due to post half-year figures tomorrow, was 4.6p higher at 408.5p.