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UK stocks made substantial gains on Monday after the US and China announced they had struck a 'phase one' trade agreement, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to acted swiftly progressing his Brexit deal.
At 0853, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 117.32 points, or 1.6%, at 7.470.76.
Sports clothing and equipment retailer Sports Direct jumped 18% to 424p after it posted a large rise in first-half profit, as acquisitions boosted revenue and it booked a one-off gain on the sale of a distribution centre.
Cinema chain Cineworld dropped 3.5% to 198.85p on announcing that it had agreed to another blockbuster deal -- this time to acquire Canadian counterpart Cineplex for about $2.1bn.
The company last year forked out $3.6bn to acquire the Regal cinema chain in the US.
AstraZeneca gained 1.9% to £73.55, having agreed to sell the rights to its anti-psychotic drugs in Europe and Russia to Cheplapharm for up to $239m.
Rail and bus concern First Group edged back 0.1% to 118.3p on confirming that it had hired advisors to explore a sale of its North American bus assets.
Water utility Pennon firmed 1.2% to 996.16p as investors responded positively to a final cost and spending determination from regulatory Ofwat for its South West Water unit, for the period between 2020 and 2025.
Engineering contractor Van Elle shed 3.8% to 38.02p on guiding that it expected to report a fall in first-half profit, owing to a particularly tough first quarter.
Fulham Shore, the owner of The Real Greek and Franco Manca restaurants, found 0.9% to 11.35p as its first-half profit nearly halved as the cost of opening new restaurants offset revenue growth.
Touchstone Exploration surged 58% to 21.75p on announcing that it had made a significant crude oil discovery in Trinidad and Tobago.
Defence contractor group Chemring added 0.8% to 200.52p after it swung to a slightly better-than-expected annual profit, led by its its sensors & information division.
Retailing group Studio Retail gained 4.5% to 230p as it agreed to sell education unit Findel Education to Wakefield city council for £50m.