Stock market concerns about Omicron continue to ease after US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci said initial data on the new variant appeared to be encouraging.
The FTSE 100 index rose another 1% after Asia markets also benefited from strong trade figures in China.
Today's session in London includes the latest house price figures from the Halifax, with November’s average of £272,992 up for a fifth month in a row and 8.2% higher compared with a year ago.
