With banks and miners in demand, leading shares are holding most of their early gains, although there are some exceptions, including FTSE 100 testing company Intertek.
The company said in November it was in talks to buy the business assurance division of Norway's Det Norske Veritas. The deal was expected to be settled in shares, making DNV a major shareholder in Intertek.
But today Intertek said a deal could not be completed within a reasonable time frame "in the light of various unanticipated complexities." It said both sides still believed the move would have had strategic and financial benefits.
The news has sent Intertek shares 20p lower to £15.09. Overall the FTSE 100 is up 42.33p points at 5765.98, buoyed by positive moves in Asia and on Wall Street, and on hopes of a resolution to Greece's financial struggles. Better than expected US home sales on Friday are also adding to the positive sentiment.
So there is a mood for a bit of risk taking by investors. Among the banks Royal Bank of Scotland has risen 1.95p to 57.75p, Lloyds Banking Group is up 1.73p to 70.21p while Barclays is 7.8p better at 370.1p. As for the miners, Antofagasta has added 34.5p to £10.28, and Xstrata has climbed 29.5p to 1196.5p.
Among the mid-caps Weir, up 104p to £10.40, and Cookson, up 38.5p to 607p, have both pleased investors with trading updates.
