Economic recovery hopes ensured a number of other commodity-based stocks were again on the front foot, with cobalt miner Glencore up 3% after it resumed dividends alongside full-year results while Rio Tinto added another 132p to 6,318p.
The FTSE 100 index, which now has the 7,000 barrier back in its sights after surging 2.5% yesterday, made further gains reaching 6792 - its highest point in over a month.
The bull run for MSCI World Index has now reached 11 sessions in a row, which if extended today would be the longest stretch since December 2003.
One of the biggest gains in the commodities sector came from small-cap Rainbow Rare Earths after the FT reported that China is considering limiting rare earth metals exports to the US so as to hobble its defence industry.
Rare earth minerals are vital for use in the F-35 fighter jet, yet China controls 80% of global supply. The prospect of rising prices benefited Rainbow, which has two major projects in Africa, as shares jumped 11% or 1.65p to 16.65p.
Hopes for a relaxation of lockdown restrictions continued to boost the domestic-focused FTSE 250 index, which added another 53.21 points to 21,472.11 after rising 1.8% yesterday.
Those making progress included cinema chain Cineworld, up 5.3p to 87.98p, and tour operator TUI after a gain of 17.9p to 363.9p. The improving economic outlook has also boosted Aston Martin Lagonda, with its shares up another 49p to 2,178p.
The biggest fall in the FTSE 250 came from homewares retailer Dunelm after its deputy chairman Will Adderley sold a £192 million chunk of shares at a price of 1,280p. Despite the placing of a 7.4% stake, the Adderley family still holds 43.2% of the business. Dunelm shares were 109p lower at 1,299p.
