The FTSE100 is currently up 50.1 points higher at 5,715.1 with the FTSE250 up 55.9 points at 9,149 and the FTSE Smallcaps 6.8 points also higher at 3,329.4.

Volume is weak so far with 844.1 million shares changing hands in 128,708 deals.


Looking ahead to Wall Street, spread bettors IG Index expect the DJIA to open 10 points higher at 11,089.


Today’s look at individual Stocks:


Unilever jumped higher in late morning deals, with shares climbing 35p to 1,181p following reports of upbeat comments from its CEO, Patrick Cescau.


Mining stocks are stronger today as metal prices rallied overnight with gold up at $596.50 per ounce while copper added small gains on fears of supply disruptions from Chile.


Anglo American is up 63p at 2,169p, Lonmin is up 86p higher at 2,727p, Vedanta is up 40p at 1,349p, Antofagasta is up 8p at 405p and Xstrata gained 33p at 2,018p.


Oil majors also lent support to the strong markets today as crude reclaimed the $70 a barrel level due to yesterday's smaller than expected rise in US gasoline supplies and ongoing tension with Iran and North Korea over North Korea’s plans to launch the Taepodong 2 long-range ballistic missile. In response to this The Pentagon has activated its new ground based interceptor missile defence system. Secretary of State and full time propaganda whore Condoleezza Rice added that any launch would be a serious matter.


Meanwhile, BP climbed 8.5p to 612p, Shell climbed 22p to 1,804p. BG Group is up 11p at 673.5p and Cairn is up 59p at 1,993p.


Corus Group stock is active this morning by ongoing sector consolidation news, rising 8.5p at 405.25p. The Financial Times this morning reported that Mittal Steel's CEO, Lakshmi Mittal, is weighing up whether to increase his company's 25.8 billion eur offer for Arcelor.


British Airways shares plummeting today by 21.75p to 346p after the flag carrier announced it is subject to investigations by both the UK's OFT and the US Department of Justice into price fixing for air travel.

This morning, the group also revealed Martin George, commercial director, and Iain Burns, head of communications, have been given leave of absence during the investigation. In response to this, UBS said it believes the investigation will put pressure on the share price particularly after the positive run the shares have had, but retained its buy advice.