Footsie edges up in light trading
The FTSE 100 Index is up 16.2 points at 3906.1, taking its cue from the close of trading in the US on Friday.
Last week saw Wall Street end on a high note with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing nearly 150 points higher on Friday night.
But with no major blue-chip updates expected ahead of the Christmas break - and with GDP data not out until later in the morning - volumes are light.
Financial stocks, which have endured a bumpy December, are stronger and adding some support.
3i is up 17p at 553.5p while Abbey National has climbed 12.5p to 518p and Bradford & Bingley has put on 6p at 289p.
