London’s FTSE 100 was up 0.8% at 7,532.12 in afternoon trade on Tuesday.
Asia-focused Standard Chartered and Prudential were both high risers following strong gains in Chinese markets, amid hopes China will ease Covid restrictions.
Miners – which are heavily dependent on demand from China – also rose, with Anglo American and Rio both up.
HSBC rallied as it announced the agreed sale of its Canadian business to RBC Capital Markets for $13.5bn in cash.
The transaction, which is expected to close late next year, will unlock “significant value” for the group, HSBC said.
On the downside, software firm Sage Group was knocked lower by an initiation at ‘sell’ by Goodbody.
FTSE 100 – Risers
Standard Chartered (STAN) 606.00p 4.52%
HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 510.30p 4.44%
Prudential (PRU) 966.60p 4.11%
Anglo American (AAL) 3,286.00p 3.54%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 5,542.00p 3.34%
Airtel Africa (AAF) 123.80p 2.48%
Harbour Energy (HBR) 318.40p 2.38%
BP (BP.) 494.20p 2.20%
NATWEST GROUP (NWG) 260.00p 2.12%
Shell (SHEL) 2,410.00p 2.10%
FTSE 100 – Fallers
Halma (HLMA) 2,152.00p -5.24%
Sage Group (SGE) 795.20p -2.55%
Croda International (CRDA) 6,742.00p -2.35%
Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 2,676.00p -2.26%
Experian (EXPN) 2,886.00p -2.04%
Severn Trent (SVT) 2,721.00p -2.02%
United Utilities Group (UU.) 1,030.50p -1.90%
Legal & General Group (LGEN) 252.00p -1.83%
Rentokil Initial (RTO) 539.60p -1.75%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 623.20p -1.67%
