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Optimism may have supported trading, as British banks were hopeful their US counterparts would report strong earnings and push the sector higher, reports Reuters.
Giles Watts, head of equities at Citi Index, commented: "I get the feeling that the buying of the banks ... has been largely with a view to heightened optimism that these will outperform."
The positive mood made financial groups the biggest blue chip growers, ahead of data releases from JP Morgan, Citi Group and Bank of America later in the week.
In Britain, Barclays led this rally, with Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group also posting strong returns, reveals the news agency.
Stock market trading in commodities demonstrated price expansion, as precious metals group Johnson Matthey rose 3.6 percent and Eurasian Natural Resources shares appreciated by 3.3 percent.
Posted by Clive Arneil
