In London, the FTSE 100 added 1.11 percent to 6,640.2, while the FTSE 250 gained 1.32 percent to 11,880.2.

Miner Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) was the best performer on the 100, where it was 5.37 percent higher to 725.5p.

The sector was mixed, however.

While Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) was also higher, adding 4.22 percent to £18.04, Aquarius Platinum (LSE: AQP; ASX: AQP; JSE: AQP) was had the worst day on the 250, falling 3.41 percent to £16.15.

Property investment company Shaftsbury (LSE: SHB) did the best on the session on the 250, adding 9.16 percent to 608p. In the same sector, Minerva (LSE: MNR) gained 6.71 percent to 330p.

Back on the 100, aerospace and defense group BAE Systems (LSE: BA; OTCBB: BASEY) was 4.79 percent higher to 421.25p on the news that its proposed acquisition of Armor Holdings (NYSE: AH), which makes military and law enforcement equipment, has been approved by US antitrust authorities.

Insurer Old Mutual (LSE: OML; JSE: OLOML) was 4.58 percent higher to 175.9p on the news that Nedbank (JSE: NED), a South African bank in which it holds the majority stake, is in talks with Standard Chartered concerning a takeover.

Standard Chartered (LSE: STAN; SEHK: 2888) was lower on the report, dropping 0.77 percent to £16.71.

Pubs operators were lower on the session after Mitchells and Butlers (LSE: MAB) had the worst day on the 100, dropping 3.25 percent to 863p after a broker downgrade from “hold” to “sell” and the setting of a target share price at 790p on a report of a possible property deal.

In the same sector, JD Wetherspoon (LSE: JDW) fell 1.29 percent to 611p.

British Energy (LSE: BGY) was 1.23 percent lower to 523p after its chairman said that the power generator’s nuclear power output last year was “disappointing”.

In London on Wednesday the FTSE 100 dropped 1.38 percent to 6,567.1, while the FTSE 250 was 0.64 percent lower to 11,726.

The best performance on the day on the 100 came from water utility Kelda Group (LSE: KEL), which gained 2.13 percent to 889p after broker upgrades.

Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER; TYO: 8675) and Citigroup (NYSE: C) both upped their recommendations on the utility, with Citigroup raising its rating from “sell” to “hold”, while JP Morgan (NYSE: JPM; TYO: 8634) raised its target share price.

Pubs operator Wetherspoon (LSE: JDW) had the best day on the 250, gaining 10.99 percent to 616p after it reported higher sales and said that it is on target to meet its forecasts.

Still in the same sector, pubs operator Mitchells & Butlers (LSE: MAB) added 1.83 percent to 892p.

In a related sector, brewer SABMiller (LSE: SAB) was 1.63 percent higher to £13.10.

The worst performance on the 250 came from sports retailer JJB Sports (LSE: JJB), which dropped 7.52 percent to 233.75p.

In the same sector, clothing retailer Next (LSE: NXT) fell 3.23 percent to £18.88 on the 100.

The biggest loser on the 100 was miner Anglo American (LSE: AAL), down 3.85 percent to £31.

Fellow miner Lonmin (LSE: LMI) was also lower as it fell 3.6 percent to £36.95.

Other commodities-related groups also saw declines on the session.

UK Coal (LSE: UKC) dropped 4.21 percent to 534.5p, while in the oil sector Dana Petroleum (LSE: DNX) fell 5 percent to £11.02.