The FTSE 100 surges 1.5% to 7,223.23 as investors react positively to the results of the first round of voting in French presidential elections.
Although right-wing populist candidate Marine Le Pen made the second round, her centrist opponent Emmanuel Macron is widely expected to prevail in the final run-off on 7 May.
The euro surged, supporting stocks with exposure to the currency such as construction business CRH (CRH) up 1.7% to £27.56 and DIY retailer Kingfisher (KGF) up 4.7% to 343.8p.
Luxury shoe brand Jimmy Choo (CHOO) gains 4% to 175.3p as it announces a strategic review to look at ways of maximising value for shareholders including through a sale of the company. The company listed in October 2014 with an issue price of 140p.
Gold mining play Randgold Resources (RRS) falls 3.5% to £68.25 as it unveils plans to extend the operation life of its Tongon mine in Ivory Coast beyond its current four-year lifespan. The weakness reflecting a slump in gold prices as investors moved out of safe havens in the wake of the French election result.
Staying in the resources sector, Anglo American (AAL) gains 2.2% to £11.42 as it shrugs off a first quarter drop in copper production to maintain full year guidance and reports strong diamond and iron ore output.
Former BP (BP.) chief Tony Hayward is set to leave his troubled Kurdistan operation Genel Energy (GENL). Genel shares drop 0.7% to 77p.
IT infrastructure services business Computacenter (CCC) gains 4.6% to 767.5p as it lifts full year guidance after a strong first quarter.
Diamond miner Petra Diamonds (PDL) gains 0.9% to 128.2p as it maintains full year production guidance after a steady third quarter performance.
5-a-side football provider Goals Soccer Centres (GOAL:AIM) gains 7.4% to 109.5p as it confirms media speculation it is mulling a merger with rival Powerleague.
Big data specialist WANdisco (WAND:AIM) surges 12.3% to 432.5p as it announces a $4.1m contract and notes it reduced cash burn to zero in the first quarter of 2017.
