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The FTSE 100 has opened higher as the UK government continues to wrangle over the prime minister's withdrawal bill agreement.
The ongoing uncertainty has failed to dent UK shares, and at 8.58am the UK's benchmark index was up 0.81%, up 58.51 points, to 7,319.25.
AstraZeneca moved 2.7% higher to £11.07, after it upgraded its guidance on product sales following a 16% rise in the third quarter of the year, led by growth in its portfolio of cancer drugs.
Aveva edged up 1.8% to £39.22 on the news it expects low double-digit growth in revenue in the first half of the year, as the strong sales execution seen in the first quarter continued.
The company also benefited from the early renewal of a large EPC contract and a moderate increase in revenue from multi-year contracts.
Royal Bank of Scotland Group has descended 2.3% to 228.40p, following an £8m operating loss in the third quarter, which includes a further provision of £900m for PPI.
The bank said group income was impacted by a particularly challenging quarter in NatWest Markets.
Value footwear retailer Shoe Zone rose 8% to 128p after it generated revenues of approximately £161.9m in the 53-week period to 5 October 2019, against a 'challenging' trading period in the second half.
Kaz Minerals bounced 6.51% to 481.8p as it lifted its guidance on gold production following an uptick in copper output in the third quarter of the year.
It said this was driven by 'strong' performance from its Aktogay and Bozshakol mines.
Woodford Patient Capital Trust climbed 21.7% to 36.94p as the board announced Schroders has been appointed portfolio manager, which will see it renamed Schroder UK Public Private Trust.
Investment platform AJ Bell moved 0.9% higher to 374.28p after it reported a rise in assets under administration, as platform customers jumped 19%.
Braemar Shipping Services declined 6.5% to 215p a fall in profit as 'strong' performance from its shipbroking division performance was offset by weakness in its financial division.
For the six months ended 31 August 2019, pre-tax profit fell 14% to £3m and revenue rose 4% to £59.5m.