Markets started on the front foot after US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's comments on Wednesday that there was no "preset course" for ending the vast quantitative easing drive.
Improving UK retail sales added to the momentum, with official figures showing a 0.2% month-on-month improvement in June, building on a 2.1% rise in May.
That boosted UK growth hopes, ahead of second quarter figures next week, and helped nudge the pound up against the euro to 1.16, although sterling was weaker against the dollar at 1.52.
Advertising and marketing giant WPP was one of London's biggest risers after French rival Publicis said half-year profits rose 15% to €314 million (£271.9m).
The update came as a relief to investors in the world's biggest advertising firm – owner of agencies Ogilvy & Mather and Burson-Marsteller – as WPP is due to post its own half-year figures next month. Shares rose 42p to 1210p, up 3.6%.
The biggest rise in the top flight came from London Stock Exchange after it reported a 39% rise in first quarter revenues.
Shares lifted 110p to 1590p as revenues were up 8% on an organic basis when excluding the first time addition of clearing house LCH.Clearnet.
Other notable gains in the FTSE-100 included budget airline easyJet, up 56p to 1406p, and Marks & Spencer up 8.8p to 482.4p on the revival of vague bid rumours, with US suitors said to be in the frame this time.
Outside the top flight, shares in Sports Direct International were up 6.2%, or 37.5p to 638p, after it reported a 40% leap in pre-tax profits to £207.2m for the year to April 28.
But baby goods retailer Mothercare fell 7p to 463pp, as it emerged that UK sales were 0.9% lower on a like-for-like basis in the 15 weeks to July 13, reflecting a "very competitive" market.
Analysts at N+1 Singer said Mothercare's recovery remained on track despite the competitive UK market, adding that first quarter sales were likely to have been hit by the timing of Easter.
The biggest risers on the FTSE-100 were the London Stock Exchange up 110p to 1590p, easyJet 56p firmer to 1406p, Aberdeen Asset Management ahead 16.5p to 414.7p and Royal Bank of Scotland up 12.8p to 334.4p.
The biggest were Sage down 5p to 357.1p, Fresnillo off 11p to 1031p, Randgold Resources 46p weaker to 4457p and Tate & Lyle down 8p to 851.5p.
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