FTSE opens higher

The FTSE 100 index has this morning opened at 43-45 points higher, or up 0.9 percent, tracking stronger performances overnight on Wall Street and in Asia. The blue-chip index ended up 15.69 points, or 0.3 percent, yesterday at 5,217.82, the highest closing level since May 15, taking its winning streak to a fifth straight session.

U.S. stocks jumped, with the S&P 500 index turning positive for the year and rising above its 200-day moving average for the first time in a month, suggesting the recent downtrend may be nearing an end.

Investors were motivated by successful debt auctions held yesterday in Spain, Belgium and Ireland, which lifted some of the gloom over Europe's debt crisis.

The euro rallied against the dollar and pushed commodity prices higher.