(MENAFN- ProactiveInvestors - UK) UK shares were heading higher at the open with big cap miners doing well as investors digested last night's Fed minutes and a firmer outlook on commodities.
FTSE100 is up 29 points at the time of writing to 6191 with BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) the biggest gainer up 2.76% to 752.90p. In small caps FTSE AIM 100 added 0.38% to 3384 and the FTSE AIM All share added 0.19% to 716.830.
Last night minutes from last month's Federal Reserve meeting were released and they indicated a split committee - which according to analysts means a US interest rate rise is unlikely in April.
Brent crude is up 2.18% to US$39.83 amid fresh hopes that a cut to oil production which has caused the glut was around the corner.
Later today the European Central Bank will release its March minutes and ECB president Mario Draghi speaks publicly.
Later still Fed chair Janet Yellen is also set to give a speech.
In Asia stocks were mixed.
The Shanghai Composite dipped 0.6% to 3033. Japan's Nikkei was practically flat at 15720 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.3% to 20265.
Australia's ASX 200 moved 0.28% higher to 4959.
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