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The FTSE 100 ended the day in positive territory on Thursday, as strong results from Royal Dutch Shell and Diageo helped investors overcome broader economic hurdles.
The first index in London closed up 27.22 points, or 0.39%, to 6 968.85.
The gains were recorded despite worrying news from the continent. Italy has entered recession and new rumors that Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank are merging.
Connor Campbell, a financial badyst at SpreadEx, said, "The British index has continued to threaten nearly 7,000 without being able to cross that key level.
"Although the macroeconomic trend has weakened, especially compared to the significant growth observed shortly after the bell, the FTSE has been supported by some key benefits."
Diageo was the biggest bearer of the FTSE 100 after the beverage giant announced the buyback of 660 million pounds of additional shares by investors.
Figures for the first half of the year show that UK consumers continued to encroach on leading beverage brands, with total UK sales increasing by 14% in the six months ended December 31st.
Underlying profit was up 12% at 2.45 billion pounds sterling. Shares reached record highs and stabilized at 12950p.
Royal Dutch Shell shares were on the verge of collapse after the blue chip company posted its biggest profit in four years, after a 36% rise in profits, thanks to higher oil prices and higher oil prices. some gas.
The major oil company posted an underlying profit of US $ 21.4 billion (£ 16.3 billion) for 2018.
Fourth-quarter profits rose 32% to $ 5.7 billion, despite more recent declines in crude oil prices. Rising gas prices also helped to improve the result.
The A shares of the company closed up 86p at 2362p while the B shares increased by 83p to 2368.5p.
Meanwhile, BT's shares ended in the red while the company had warned that a messy Brexit could hit business and consumer confidence, even though it was posting a rise in its profits to two figures.
The telecommunications giant said it was ready for a possible Brexit without agreement and that its emergency planning was to ensure that it could "provide uninterrupted service to our customers, including inventory sufficient to protect against possible delays in importation '.
Shares closed 1.6 p at 232.4 p.
The pound was trading up 0.1% against the US dollar at 1.313 and up 0.3% against the euro at 1.146.
Michael Brown, senior badyst at Caxton FX, said: "It is unlikely that the pound sterling will significantly increase its earnings in the coming weeks, unless the official confirmation of an extension of Article 50 materializes and that political uncertainty persists.
"Overall, it is likely that the pound will begin to fall before the second" significant vote "if the current stalemate continues and this month's gains become more likely."
In Europe, the German DAX fell by 0.08% and the French CAC by 0.36%.
The barrel of Brent Brut was trading at 62 US dollars, up 10.3%.
Diageo up 129.5p at 2,901.5p, Antofagasta up 37.2p at 869.8p, Royal Dutch Shell B up 26p at 2362p and Royal Dutch Shell A up 83p at 2368.5p.
Smurfit Kappa fell 120 points, Standard Life Aberdeen down 13.4 points to 251.65 points, Tui 40.5 points to 1,154 points and DS Smith 10.9 points to 337.2 points.
Press Association
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