The London stock market went into a positive territory at closing time on Thursday.

The benchmark FTSE 100 index closed up 50.3 points, or 0.93 percent, to 5,476.60.

Engineering firm Amec topped the leaders board, rising 4.4 percent, after it increased its forecast for the year.

Mining shares fell back as metals prices weakened, and Carphone Warehouse dropped 4.8 percent after being removed from a broker's list of preferred stocks.