(Noon): After spending most of the morning in negative territory, the FTSE 100 recovered some ground to stand down just 0.94 of a point at 6,675.14.
(Close): Shares in London ended the day higher despite spending much of the trading day in negative territory.
Analysts cited comments from European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi as helping the market.
The FTSE 100 closed up 30 points, or 0.5%, to stand at 6,706.
Mr Draghi said eurozone monetary policy would stay supportive for a long time.
Analysts cited comments from European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi as helping the market. Mr Draghi said eurozone monetary policy would stay supportive for a long time.
Silver and gold miner Fresnillo was the top riser in the index, with its shares up 2.6%, after positive comments from analysts at UBS.
Mining stocks also rallied, helping push the market back into the black in the last hour of trading.
"After recent share price weakness we see attractive long term value in Fresnillo and are attracted to its low cost assets, production growth, high return projects, exploration upside and conservative management," UBS said.
BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Anglo American were all among the biggest risers.
Centrica and Old Mutual fell after their shares began trading without the right to the latest dividend. The move ex-dividend pushed Old Mutual shares down 1.4% while Centrica fell 2.5%.
Royal Mail shares fell more than 3% despite the announcement of a Business Committee inquiry into competition from its main rival Whistl - previously called TNT Post.
Tesco shares slipped a further 0.5% to 193.55p. The supermarket giant saw its share price slump below the £2 mark earlier this week after it announced it had overstated its profit guidance by £250m.
Tesco shares fell in and out of the red throughout the day, but ended up slightly to 194.9p.
In the FTSE 250, shares in property website Rightmove fell 2.8% after Citi cut its rating on the stock to "sell" from "buy".
The supermarket giant saw its share price slump below the £2 mark earlier this week after it announced it had overstated its profit guidance by £250m.
Topps Tiles edged up 0.5% after it said adjusted full-year pre-tax profits were expected to be about £17m, up 30% on the year before.
On the currency markets, the pound fell 0.25% against the dollar to $1.6349 but climbed 0.2% against the euro to 1.2784 euros.
On the currency markets, the pound rose 0.1% against the dollar to $1.6407 and climbed 0.13% against the euro to 1.2774 euros.
