London's blue chip benchmark opens up 18.63 points at 6,749.9, as investors continue to bet on further stimulus ahead in the eurozone, with miners including Antofagasta (ANTO) and Petropavlovsk (POG) in demand.
One of the biggest risers early on is consumer payments platform Paypoint (PAY), which perks up 5.5% to 976.5p as excitement mounts ahead of tomorrow's interim results. Investors will be on the lookout for net revenue trends, a key performance indicator, which came in at £54.1 million in the first half of last year. First quarter net revenue, reported in July, was up 9% on the same period in 2013.
Holiday operator Thomas Cook (TCG) plunges 17.5% to 113.8p on news that chief executive Harriet Green has resigned and a warning growth will be more moderate in the coming year. The travel agent reports falling revenues but improved margins and reduced losses for the year to 30 September. Read our news analysis here.
Transatlantic property investor Daejan (DJAN) adds 2.4% at £51 after reporting a 76% pre-tax profits gain to £134.5 million in the half to end-September, driven by rental increases and new lettings.
Home shopping-to-education supplies company Findel (FDL), a running Shares Play of the Week, falls 8.2% to 217.63p despite reporting its first interim pre-tax profit in six years. Current trading is mixed however, with overall sales 'slightly behind' last year, reflecting flat sales at biggest business Express Gifts.
Branded clothing designer French Connection (FCCN) struts ahead 9.1% to 55.63p on a reassuring update for the four months to 25 November. Despite a weather-affected retail result, group losses reduced, driven by improvements in the UK wholesale and global licensing businesses.
Soft drinks group Britvic (BVIC) loses fizz, off 15p to 681.5p as news of a slow start to the new financial year overshadows strong full year results and 13.6% dividend hike to 20.9p.
Patisserie (CAKE:AIM), the UK's largest patisserie cafe chain, rises 1.89% to 201.75p on a 37% increase in pre-tax profit to £11.3 million for the year to September.
A positive annual meeting update sees cakes-to-breads maker Finsbury Food (FIF:AIM) bake in a 2.5% gain at 62p. In the first four months of the new financial year, Finsbury generated 3.9% organic sales growth and there's a confident outlook on the transformational acquisition of baker Fletchers too.
Commercial real estate investor First Property (FPO:AIM) rises 7.8% to 29.25p on interim pre-tax profits jumping 184% to £5.4 million and a 6% dividend hike to 0.35p.
Brain health specialist Ixico (IXI:AIM) sparks up 7.1% to 37.5p on news its two clinical trial contracts for Huntington’s disease have been extended to a potential £2.5 million over three years.
Kefi Minerals (KEFI:AIM) falls 6.1% to 1.15p despite finally resolving a gap in its finances. The small cap has conditionally raised £4.9 million, including £3 million from new strategic investor Perth Global Funds, for working capital while it finalises permits and project financing to build a gold mine in Ethiopia. Today's share price fall is down to the initial tranche of money being raised at an 18% discount to last night's market close. A later tranche will be placed at a big premium of between 1.3p and 2p per share.
