The FTSE 100 is edging up this morning, thanks, once again, to the movement of the big-hitting mining companies - up 19 points, 0.3%, at 5798.
Fresnillo, Vedanta Resources, Evraz, Antofagasta and ENRC were the five biggest risers in early trading, perhaps on hopes that a eurozone resolution is getting closer.
A year-long look at a handful of these miners reveals some are close to their 12 month highs, which were generally around the end of February and beginning of March when the second Greek bailout was agreed and the European Central Bank injected €530bn of cheap loans into the markets.
Fresnillo, the Mexican-based silver mining firm is not far off its 1st March high of £19.13, up 65p, 3.7%, at £18.43.
While Antofagasta, the Chilean copper producer, is not far off its 3rd February high of £13.99, trading up 28p, 2.3%, at £12.74.
And others have at least managed monthly highs, as the final day of September trading starts.
Vedanta Resources is up 16% on the month, up this morning 32p at £10.51. Evraz is up 7% in September, up 7.7p at 252.2p. Kazakhmys is up 11.8% this month, up 12p at 709.9p.
The only company bucking the trend is ENRC – but it has its own problems and is slowly running out of money, apparently.
Meanwhile, dragging the midcaps down on the FTSE 250 is the London Stock Exchange, which issued a profit warning on the back of stricter rules from Europe over levels of collateral needed.
It said, as a result, income will fall next year.
Shares dropped 76p, 7.4%, and the company also revealed clearing house LCH.Cleanet, which it has agreed to buy, will have to increase its regulatory capital by between €300m and €375m in the new rules are approved.
The LSE was reacting to advice provided to the European Commission by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and the European Banking Authority (EBA) for new standards for safety buffers in trading.
"If adopted in their current form, the recommendations will have some implications for (the LSE's) existing wholly owned subsidiary central counterparty, CC&G," the LSE said.
