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Those learning how to be a trader will have seen oil firms such as BP rise, tracking a rally in the price of oil triggered by potential Iran oil embargoes, Reuters reports.
Royal Dutch Shell was also higher as ING upgraded its rating for the bank to 'buy', while easing concerns over a global financial crisis and the debt problems in Greece helped banks and insurance firms.
By 12:12 GMT, the FTSE 100 was 0.7 per cent higher on 5,767.40 points, with shares in Wall Street expected to open in positive territory.
Stocks were also up around Europe, with the FTSEurofirst 300 advancing 0.4 per cent on 1,047.06 points by 12:25 GMT.
Analyst for JPMorgan Mislav Matejka said "the rotation out of defensives and quality into beta and value" is likely to take place for "as long as global activity remains on an uptrend".
Posted by Clive Arneil
