(MENAFN- ProactiveInvestors) FTSE 100 building materials group CRH () was the standout riser as trading began in London.
Shares in the firm jumped 6% after it won a long-running battle to take control of a £4.9bn group of assets up for grabs as a result of the merger of cement giants Lafarge and Holcim.
Lafarge and Holcim were told to sell assets to meet regulators' concerns.
Overall London's benchmark equity index was 11 points higher at 6761 halfway through the morning session despite weak Chinese manufacturing data overnight and Friday’s slip in US GDP.
Shire () also gained as it said the US Food and Drug Administration has granted approval for the firm’s Vyvanse capsules to treat binge-eating disorder in adults.
Oil has benefited from a drop in the oil rig count on Friday offsetting some global supply glut worries. A barrel of Brent crude is now worth US$51.
() Shell () and () were all 2% higher.
Supermarket ’s () was also at the top end early on after broker Jefferies upgraded its share price target on the UK grocer to 270p. Shares are currently priced at 262p.
Shares in metal miners () and () lost ground as UBS analysts issued downgrades on the pair.
() shares lost 4% despite the airline raising its full-year earnings outlook. Chief executive Michael O’Leary warned shareholders and analysts to "temper expectations" for full-year profits in 2015-16.
EasyJet () followed the airline lower also losing 4%.
Mid-cap oil explorer gained 40% as investors responded to news released late on Friday that it had secured some extra breathing space to meet a US$50mln repayment on its heavy debt pile.
In the junior market () has described as "excellent" initial results from drilling at the Hot Maden gold-copper Prospect in eastern Turkey. Shares advanced 27%.
Oil and gas investor TXO () was 30% higher as the firmnoted from a recent press article in the Bahamas the potential of a contract for Grand Bahama Group (GBG) following an oil spill.
Local residents and government officials in Para State north central Brazil have backed ’ () plans for its Araguaia nickel project. Shares ticked up 9%.
Shares in () were lifted as it said full year 2014 revenues had beaten market expectations demonstrating the tech firm's stong organic growth.
Shares in oil services software specialist SeaEnergy () were higher as the group said it will meet forecasts this year while the slide in crude prices has increased enquiries for its lead product.
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