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According to Reuters, the benchmark index has risen 0.8 per cent by 11:58 GMT, taking it to 5,450.33 points.
HSBC, which had performed poorly yesterday after posting its financial results for 2009, added 1.9 per cent, while there were gains of a much as three per cent for Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, Standard Chartered and Royal Bank of Scotland.
Mining firms were also up, despite a slight fall in metal prices, as a positive trading note from Nomura helped Rio Tinto, Anglo American, BHP Billiton and Antofagasta to all rise.
And there was a two per cent jump for Fresnillo after its 2009 financial results exceeded forecasts.
According to the news agency, trading was also positive across Europe, with the FTSEurofirst 300 finishing the morning on 1,025.06 points, an increase of 0.5 per cent.
Posted by Clive Arneil
