The FTSE 100 has shrugged off fears of a resumption of hostilities in the Middle East, as a spike in oil prices sent energy and defensive stocks higher.
Global markets tumbled as Israel said it struck military targets in Iran, which pushed Brent crude towards $100 a barrel again, gaining as much as 4 per cent today to touch $97 this morning.
That sent the FTSE 100's energy and defensive stocks higher, after starting the day in the red. BP and Shell added 0.7 per cent and 1 per cent, respectively, while BAE Systems gained 1.2 per cent.
London's blue-chip index was up 14 points to around 10,382 by lunchtime.
British American Tobacco led the FTSE's biggest gainers, up 2.27 per cent, 'as investors popped some defensive-style names into their portfolio' said Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell.
