The FTSE 100 index rose 0.6% by 0717 GMT, but was set for its first weekly decline in six.

UK's industrial metal and mining index rose 1.6%, as hopes of fresh stimulus in China aided copper and other metal prices. [MET/L] [IRONORE/]

Anglo American climbed 2.2% after its Chile chief executive officer resigned and major copper producer Peru abandoned a plan to hike taxes on the mining industry.

Drugmaker GSK gained 1.7%, after Citigroup said it was on "a positive catalyst watch" following the Zantac legal developments that could materially reduce its exposure, compared to the $17 billion that is discounted. GSK's recently spun-off consumer health unit Haleon jumped almost 3%.

The domestically-focussed FTSE 250 index rose 0.6% but was also heading for a sharp weekly decline.

Micro Focus International Plc soared 92.7% to hit more than one-year highs, after Canadian software company OpenText said it would be acquiring the enterprise software maker in an all-cash deal of $6 billion including debt.

(Reporting by Johann M Cherian and Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)