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By 11:26 GMT, the index was up 0.7 per cent to 1,058.20 points, with banks among the biggest risers in the morning session.
Deutsche Bank added over 1.5 per cent, Nick Serff of City Index noted, with a positive 2009 annual report and a price upgrade from Morgan Stanley helping to send the bank's stock higher.
"The company said that they expect the banking industry to progress towards a new form of normality in 2010 and 2011," Mr Serff remarked.
UBS and BNP Paribas were among the other banks that had jumped by midday.
Oil firms also rose after the price of crude edged above $80 (£52.80) per barrel, with Total Royal Dutch Shell and BP among the companies to rise.
And news that Lindt, the Swiss chocolate manufacturer, predicts it will begin to meet its long-term growth aims by 2011 helped its stock to jump 5.4 per cent.
Posted by Chris Weaver
