By 8.23am, the blue chip index was 0.7 per cent higher at 4,438 from Monday’s close of 4,405 with banks holding up gains.
Barclays was 1.3 per cent higher at 287.50p, Lloyds Banking Group was 3.8 per cent higher at 63.40p and Royal Bank of Scotland was 1.7 per cent higher at 35.90p.