Global markets suffered a lacklustre session today as a raft of disappointing economic updates across the world weighed on sentiment.
France's Cac 40 and Germany's Dax both posted sharp declines after a weak reading from a survey of European manufacturing and services sectors added to further fears about a Greek euro exit.
Data from the Chinese and US economies were also disappointing, but the FTSE 100 managed to close higher, adding 25.4 points to 7053.7, boosted by a strong performance from London-listed mining stocks.
In currencies, the pound came under pressure after a surprise fall in UK retail sales last month.
Economists said the surprise 0.5% drop in volume sales on the previous month was likely to feed into a weaker overall first quarter for UK growth, with gross domestic product (GDP) figures next week likely to show a slowdown.
GDP grew by 0.6% in the final quarter of last year but today's figures prompted a prediction that the pace of expansion could slow to 0.4%.
Sterling fell by a cent against the euro to a little over 1.39 though it recovered from an initial decline against the US dollar to finish the session above the 1.50 mark - after figures in America showed falling new home sales while jobless claims ticked up.
In New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was ahead.
The dismal round of world economic updates was completed by China, with a manufacturing survey showing the lowest activity for a year.
But this failed to dent appetite for London's mining stocks, with Anglo American leading the top-flight risers' board as it climbed 5%, or 48p, to 1062p, with Antofagasta up 35p at 784.5p and Fresnillo ahead by 24.5p at 727.5p.
Tesco was higher after losing 5% yesterday in the wake of annual results showing a massive £6.4 billion loss, which also pulled down supermarket rivals.
In the latest session, shares rose 1%, or 2.6p, to 225.3p while Morrisons added 3.1p to 193.5p and Sainsbury's climbed 4p to 267p.
In corporate news, Taylor Wimpey rose 1.4p to 165.7p after it said underlying demand remained strong despite election uncertainty, with the average selling price of one of its homes jumping by 14% to £282,900.
Outside the top flight, shares in set-top box maker Pace jumped 35% or 115p to 447p after the announcement of a takeover by US firm Arris.
William Hill was 3% lower as the bookmaker said operating profits for the three months to the end of March were down 19% to £16 million, with the performance impacted by poor football results in January. Shares dropped 11.1p to 361.2p.
The biggest risers in the FTSE 100 Index were Anglo American up 48p to 1062p, Antofagasta up 35p to 784.5p, Fresnillo up 24.5p to 727.5p and Rio Tinto up 94.5p to 2958p.
The biggest fallers in the FTSE 100 Index were Legal & General down 12.1p to 265.1p, Old Mutual down 6.4p to 231.1p, Sports Direct down 14.5p to 616.5p and Mondi down 31p to 1322p.
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