The FTSE 100 Index continued its resurgence in a strong session for blue-chip mining and oil stocks.
A further slide in the US dollar propelled the price of gold to a fresh high above 1,000 dollars an ounce, while oil prices were also stronger at more than 78 US dollars a barrel.
The FTSE 100 Index had earlier shaken off Friday's grim US unemployment figures as investors said the report was a further sign that interest rates in the world's largest economy will stay low for longer.
In London, the Footsie was up more than 1% or 67.9 points to 5210.6 by lunchtime - extending the market's winning run to a fourth straight session.
The rally for the mining sector, as the weak greenback steered speculators towards the commodity sector, saw Kazakhmys rise 62p to 1275p, while Rio Tinto added 101.5p to 3018.5p and Xstrata gained 30p to 992.5p.
Prudential led the Footsie risers board for much of the session with a gain of 26p to 604p. It was joined by Royal Bank of Scotland, which continued to benefit from signs in Friday's third quarter report that it may be over the worst for bad debts. Shares were up another 1.85p to 38.9p.
Elsewhere in the banking sector, Barclays was more than 3% higher ahead of its third quarter figures on Tuesday as investors look to another bumper performance from its investment banking operations. Shares rose 6.1p to 342.6p, while HSBC added 6.2p to 689.5p ahead of its own update on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Dairy Milk maker Cadbury was down less than 1% after US suitor Kraft tabled its takeover offer direct to shareholders, following the rejection of its earlier 745p a share, or £10.2 billion, takeover approach.
While a weaker Kraft share price means the value of the cash-and-shares offer has fallen to 720p a share or £9.8 billion, the Dairylea maker has not bolstered its opening offer to shareholders.
Blue-chip security group G4S eased by 2.8p to 250p as results showed a 12% lift in operating profits in the first nine months of 2009, but weaker revenue growth.
