London’s FTSE 100 was up 0.4% at 7,614.07 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Travel-related shares were on the rise, perhaps boosted by a solid update from low-cost airline Wizz Air, which said it was expecting to ramp up capacity beyond pre-pandemic levels for its summer schedule as it forecast a better-than-expected final quarter.
InterContinental Hotels, BA and Iberia owner IAG and Premier Inn owner Whitbread all rallied.
On the downside, broadcaster ITV fell as it traded without entitlement to the dividend.
Smiths Group was also in the red after it announced the appointment of Clare Scherrer as chief financial officer with effect from 29 April, succeeding John Shipsey.
FTSE 100 – Risers
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 5,170.00p 3.69%
Whitbread (WTB) 2,907.00p 3.38%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 144.82p 3.22%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 92.42p 2.65%
Land Securities Group (LAND) 766.40p 2.41%
Compass Group (CPG) 1,676.50p 2.23%
Smurfit Kappa Group (CDI) (SKG) 3,145.00p 2.08%
Flutter Entertainment (CDI) (FLTR) 8,570.00p 2.02%
Halma (HLMA) 2,519.00p 1.90%
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 44.93p 1.80%
FTSE 100 – Fallers
Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 3,940.00p -3.53%
ITV (ITV) 76.62p -3.14%
Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI) (CCH) 1,566.50p -2.06%
BT Group (BT.A) 185.75p -1.72%
Airtel Africa (AAF) 147.10p -1.41%
Imperial Brands (IMB) 1,649.50p -1.20%
British American Tobacco (BATS) 3,234.50p -0.89%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 1,143.50p -0.87%
B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI) (BME) 535.00p -0.82%
Smiths Group (SMIN) 1,426.00p -0.77%
