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In early trading it climbed to 5,695.94 points - higher than the 5,675.05 points recorded on Friday - before retreating slightly, Reuters reports.
By 14:49 GMT the index was on 5,680.58 points - 0.64 per cent higher for the day - with commodity firms and banks among the biggest risers.
A jump in the price of gold helped boost mining stocks, while Standard Chartered was one of the banks that gained in value.
However, it was Legal & General that led the FTSE, rising by nearly nine per cent to 411.7p after it posted a profit that was ahead of market forecasts.
"[Its] operating profit came in at £1.3 billion, which is higher than the market consensus of £1.1 billion and is a clear indication by the company that cost-cutting measures [are] gaining traction," remarked Joshua Raymond of City Index.
Posted by Greg Secker
