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UK stocks were trading higher by lunchtime on Wednesday after Donald Trump said the US and China were in the 'final throes' of putting together a trade deal.
At 11.35, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 31.44 points, or 0.42%, at 7,434.58.
LARGE AND MID CAP RISERS AND FALLERS
British American Tobacco edged 1.8% higher to £30.41 as it forecast annual adjusted profit at the upper end of long-term guidance range.
The tobacco giant also posted lower sales in the US amid a regulatory crackdown on sales of vaping products.
Mining giant Rio Tinto added 0.6% to £42.81 after it approved a $749m investment in its iron ore operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia state.
Drinks maker Britvic gained 8p to trade at 993p despite reporting weaker annual profits, pinned on challenging market backdrops in Ireland and France, as the market focused on a significant improvement in free cash flow.
Pub group Marston's reversed 0.63% to 126.6p, having swung to a full-year loss after it company wrote down the value of its assets and cycled tough comparatives following the football World Cup in the previous year.
Residential landlord Grainger firmed 2.1% to 281.8p on the back of a 30% rise in annual profit, driven by a surge in rental income.
Office space provider Workspace added 0.73% to trade at £10.99 as it exchanged contracts to sell Quality Court, off Chancery Lane in Holborn, London for £15.8m.
IT infrastructure and services provider Softcat rose 0.2% to £11.36 on announcing that it had grown its revenue and operating profit in the first quarter of its financial year.
SMALL CAP RISERS AND FALLERS
Travel company On the Beach gained 0.9% to 438p, even as it reported a 26% fall in annual profit due to costs associated with the collapse of rival Thomas Cook.
The company also posted a hefty rise in revenue and reiterated that the demise of its larger rival presented an opportunity to snatch market share.
Furniture retailer ScS slipped back 3p to 219p as its order intake slid 7.1% in the year to date, though the rate of decline had improved since earlier in the year.
Cross border financial services provider STM sank 27% to 31.5p after it downgraded its annual profit guidance, due to re-branding delays at recent acquisition Carey and weaker new business applications in the UK pension market.
Specialist engineering group Pressure Technologies slumped 7.25% to 96p after a jury delivered a guilty verdict in a trial related to a fatal accident that occurred in 2015 at subsidiary Chesterfield Special Cylinders.
Cyber security company Shearwater gained 1.65% to 247p, having reported a narrower first-half loss as it boosted sales, both from acquisitions and its existing operations.
Educational virtual reality content provider VR Education was unchanged at 8p, even as it announced that its latest showcase experience, 'Shuttle Commander', would launch on Sony PlayStation on 3 December.
Online women's fashion brand Sosandar improved 1% to 25.25p on first half results demonstrating strong sales momentum ahead of Black Friday. With brand awareness building, Sosandar achieved sales growth of well over 100% in October, a performance November is on course to beat.