London's leading shares have started the session on a firm footing, buoyed by a strong performance on Wall Street overnight.
After a session which saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average near the 8500 mark, London's FTSE 100 Index was 54.5 points ahead at 3972.2 after an hour of trading.
With only a clutch of companies in negative territory, battered media stock Reuters enjoyed some much-needed respite leading the early risers up 5 per cent or 6p at 125.5p.
There was also welcome boost for financial stocks with Lloyds TSB leading the banks up almost 4 per cent or 14.75p at 4143.75p. while Barclays gained 13.25p at 434p and Royal Bank of Scotland was 40p higher at 1659p.
Among insurers Legal & General was 2.25p higher at 79.5p, Norwich Union owner Aviva was up 7.5p at 423.5p and Prudential cheered 9.75p at 380.5p.
In the second division FTSE 250 Index infrastructure group Serco was among the climbers - up 5 per cent after its joint venture with Dutch Rail was named as preferred bidder for the Merseyrail franchise by the Strategic Rail Authority.
Shares were up 6.5p at 142.5p.
And pubs group Punch Taverns was up 10 per cent after its first half profits beat expectations. Shares climbed 17.5p to 200.5p.
PA