The FTSE 100 and the FTSE 250 were up 0.4% by 0715 GMT.

Heavyweights HSBC, Prudential and Standard Chartered boosted the blue-chip index as markets hoped that trade tensions between Washington and Beijing would be eased.

Oil majors Shell and BP were also supported as escalating U.S.-Iran tensions and expectations that producer club OPEC would continue to withhold supply this year pushed oil prices higher.

Galliford Try climbed 13.3% to the top of the FTSE 250 after the builder said it would cut up to 350 jobs as its construction business focuses on its core strengths, bringing hopes of improved margins.