By Jonathan Davies
The FTSE 100 recovered some of the ground it lost on Tuesday in early trading on Wednesday.
Shares dropped 1.4% on Tuesday as investors' concerns over Greece intensified and price of German government bonds jumped.
But the FTSE100 jumped 32.64 points to 6,966.44.
Housebuilders saw strong gains, with Barratt up 3.3% and Persimmon up 2% on higher forecasts for housebuilding this year.
Welsh insurance firm Admiral saw shares fall 1.6% after it was announced that chief executive Henry Engelhardt will step down next year after 24 years in charge.
The sterling reacted well to the latest unemployment figures, rising 0.3% against the US dollar to $1.572 - its highest level this year.
