The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was falt with banks and life insurers adding 0.6pc and 0.1pc, respectively. HSBC Holdings and Prudential provided the biggest boost.
The domestically focused FTSE 250 index rose 0.1pc, with aero and defence stocks adding 1.7pc. Meggitt gained 3.1pc after UBS upgraded the stock to "neutral" from "sell".
American Clean Energy Refining LLC (ACER), based in Baton Rouge, submitted two bids for the refinery, the first last December, Chief Executive George R. Dabbs told Reuters on Sunday. Neither was accepted, he said.
Most of the other production units at the refinery remained shut on following a Wednesday afternoon loss of three steam boilers at the refinery, the sources said.