Precious metals producers and mainstream miners climbed to the top of the FTSE 100 as stronger gold, silver and copper prices boosted the resources sector.
Fresnillo gained 3.6%, and Endeavour Mining rose 3.5% as gold jumped 2.9% to around $4,054 an ounce and silver surged 4.4% to about $51.94 an ounce.
Anglo American advanced 2.3% as copper rose 0.6% to around $6.44 a pound, extending support for diversified miners after metals prices remained at elevated levels.
The moves helped lift the FTSE 100 around 0.3% to 10,669 by 9am, offsetting weakness in industrial and defence stocks.
Precious metals were also supported by a weaker US dollar and lower Treasury yields as investors digested the outcome of the US midterm elections.
The gains contrasted with a 7% slide in Weir after its third-quarter order intake failed to impress investors despite unchanged guidance.
BAE Systems fell more than 5% and Babcock International lost almost 3%, while Smith+Nephew dropped around 2% after lowering its full-year revenue and profit expectations.
Banks also provided support, with HSBC up 2.7% and Standard Chartered gaining 2.5%.
