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At 12:09 BST the benchmark index was up 0.7 points to 5,160.43, after gains made by mining companies and banks were offset by a drop in oil shares, Reuters reports.
Weak consumer confidence data from the US prompted Royal Dutch Shell, Tullow Oil, BG Group and BP to all decline.
This countered against climbs for Lonmin, Anglo American, Xstrata and Rio Tinto, as well as financial giants Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland and Standard Chartered.
Market strategist Nick Serff observed that many investors will be waiting for the release of US gross domestic product data before starting trading.
He also commented that shares in Marks & Spencer are now "the worst-performing stock in London", after the retailer fell by over one per cent following the release of a cautious trading update.
