The FTSE 100 was up 0.22% at 7,558.49 at 1530 BST.
There was no major corporate news in a rare quiet day on the markets.
Pharma companies were in favour, with AstraZeneca, GSK and Reckitt Benckiser Group all leading the gainers.
Iberia airline owner IAG fell after the USO union called a 10-day strike involving staff at the low-cost Iberia Express unit that will begin on August 28 and will last until September 6.
FTSE 100 – Risers
AstraZeneca (AZN) 11,278.00p 2.40%
GSK (GSK) 1,434.00p 2.28%
Reckitt Benckiser Group (RKT) 6,628.00p 1.75%
Unilever (ULVR) 4,002.00p 1.63%
Avast (AVST) 697.80p 1.54%
Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 676.60p 1.38%
Admiral Group (ADM) 2,330.00p 1.35%
Shell (SHEL) 2,246.00p 1.29%
Diageo (DGE) 3,949.50p 1.20%
Relx plc (REL) 2,447.00p 1.20%
FTSE 100 – Fallers
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 114.76p -3.25%
Entain (ENT) 1,329.00p -3.13%
Kingfisher (KGF) 240.60p -2.98%
SEGRO (SGRO) 1,024.50p -2.98%
Howden Joinery Group (HWDN) 640.00p -2.85%
Anglo American (AAL) 2,836.50p -2.43%
Persimmon (PSN) 1,699.50p -2.38%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,142.00p -2.35%
Next (NXT) 6,186.00p -2.31%
Intermediate Capital Group (ICP) 1,483.50p -2.18%
