Overall the blue-chip index, which was expected to open higher after the spread of coronavirus in China looked to have slowed, rose 53.33 points to 7435.39.
FTSE 100 fallers included NMC Health, down 40.46p to 803.44p. It comes as Czech activist investor Krupa Global Investments said it was not proceeding with finding a private equity buyer for the under-fire healthcare operator.
Krupa said it disagreed with the resignation of chairman BR Shetty this week and that it wants to see the founder return. The FTSE 250 was up 78.61 points to 21757. Elsewhere, struggling High Street lender Metro Bank said interim chief executive Dan Frumkin will take the top job on a permanent basis.
The bank’s former boss Craig Donaldson stepped down last year after a tough period that saw the discovery of an accounting error.
Frumkin said: “This is a business with robust foundations and real potential to shake up British banking.”
He will update the market on plans next week.
The City didn’t appear excited and shares in Metro Bank reduced 4.1p to 190.9p.
