The FTSE 100 Index closed up 48.8 points at 5497.4 after healthy gains for oil and mining stocks.

Rises from the likes of BP and BHP Billiton offset falls from travel and transport groups as oil prices returned to $117 a barrel.

And higher metal prices saw miners dominate the risers board, with Antofagasta top performer after ending the day up 25.5p to 563.5p - a near 5 per cent lift.

BHP Billiton shares rose 70p to 1582p, while among oil companies Royal Dutch Shell lifted 38p to 1803p and BP rose 2.5p to 527p.

Retailers Next and B&Q owner Kingfisher also clawed back some losses seen in recent days, up 18.5p at 1009p and 2.3p at 126.9p respectively.

But the oil price rise affected heavily fuel-dependent firms, such as bus and rail operator FirstGroup, down 17.5p at 558p.

Tour operator TUI Travel sunk 5p to 223p, despite updating the market with "buoyant" trading.

British Airways had a see-saw day thanks to the rising oil price and the announcement it had signed a joint venture agreement with American Airlines and merger partner Iberia on flights between North America and Europe.

The tie-up, which is subject to regulatory clearance, caused BA shares to rally before they slipped back 1.75p to 253.75p.

Winners: Antofagasta up 25.5p to 563.5p, Kazakhmys up 57p to 1262p, Anglo American up 132p at 2923p and Eurasian Natural Resources which closed up 46p at 1036p.

Losers: Rolls-Royce down 15.5p to 387.5p, FirstGroup down 17.5p to 558p, TUI Travel down 5p at 223p and Man Group which ended the day down 11p to 519p.

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