UK's FTSE 100 posted a fresh record high on Thursday boosted by upbeat corporate earnings from Centrica and Standard Chartered, while miners were lifted by higher commodity prices.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) gained 0.5%, as of 0820 GMT, above the 8,000 points mark it breached in the previous session.
British gas owner Centrica (CNA.L) jumped to the top of the FTSE 100, gaining 4.6% after its annual profit more than tripled and the company announced it was extending its share buyback programme.
British bank Standard Chartered (STAN.L) rose 2.9% after reporting a 28% rise in annual pretax profit.
European information provider Relx (REL.L) gained 3.8% after reporting a better-than-expected 10% rise in full-year adjusted earnings per share.
The more domestically-focussed FTSE 250 midcaps (.FTMC) rose 0.4%, although gains were capped by losses in pharmaceutical company Indivior (INDV.L), which fell 14.4% after reporting its full-year results.
