At the close: FTSE 100 index closes up on Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey
The FTSE 100 index edged higher in the first trading day since Christmas, led higher by Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey.
The UK's top blue-chip index closed 0.96 per cent higher at 6,314 points, despite losses by miners, which had benefited from a dead cat bounce in the build-up to Christmas.
Read more: Oil prices crawl back up as the US braces for colder weather
Hikma led the FTSE higher, rising 4.75 per cent to 2,358p per share. Earlier today AlphaValue reaffirmed its buy rating on the company's stock, according to MarketBeat.
Housebuilders, which have been one of the best performing sectors in 2015, continued their strong form, with Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey both embedded at the top of the FTSE.
Persimmon rose 3.4 per cent to 2,040p per share while Taylor Wimpey's stock increased 3.55 per cent to 204.2p per share.
Read more: Oil prices crawl back up as the US braces for colder weather
However, a number of miners were down. Anglo American fell the most, dropping 6.31 per cent to close at 307.35p per share, its woes confounded after announcing the sale of a shuttered Australian mine for A$25m (£12.2m) on Thursday.
Rio Tinto also fell 1.42 per cent to 1,978p per share, while Antofagasta and Fresnillo dropped 0.41 per cent to 460.7p per share and 0.77 per cent to 710p per share respectively.