Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport Getty Images

The FTSE 100 Wednesday closed up before fresh proposal by Greece to mend its debt burden were rejected.

The market was lifted by airline stocks, which made healthy gains following the release of the Airports Commission which recommended a third runway be built at Heathrow.

"EasyJet, British Airways' parent IAG, Flybe, Dart and Ryanair were all in positive territory," says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.

"Heathrow hopes the report has settled the argument once and for all but the commission has kept Gatwick's hopes alive by describing a second runway there as a 'credible' option," he said.

London mayor Boris Johnson has voiced his strong opposition to another runway at Heathrow, and with that the "debate looks as though it will run and run" Mould added.

After falling earlier in the week the bluechip index rebounded with 1.34% in gains to close at 6,608.59p.

Pub group Greene King was also up after its revenues rose to a record £1.3bn and with solid like-for-like growth across its three main divisions but underlying pre-tax profits slipped as profit margins came under pressure.

Mining companies Anglo American and Glencore were both tapped out and landed among the day's largest fallers.

FTSE 100 biggest risers

  • Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc +11.20 (+3.19%) 362.70
  • Merlin Entertainments Plc +13.50 (+3.16%) 440.60
  • TUI AG +31.00 (+3.01%) 1,061.00
  • InterContinental Hotels Group Plc +75.00 (+2.92%) 2,641.00
  • Barratt Developments Plc +17.50 (+2.85%) 632.00

FTSE 100 biggest fallers

  • Randgold Resources -70.00 (-1.63%) 4,215.00
  • Tesco Plc -2.95 (-1.39%) 209.60
  • Antofagasta Holdings -9.00 (-1.31%) 680.50
  • Anglo American -8.40 (-0.91%) 910.10
  • Glencore Plc -2.30 (-0.90%) 253.00

FTSE AIM 100 biggest risers

  • Sirius Minerals Plc +6.50 (+43.33%) 21.50
  • RWS Holdings Plc +12.75 (+10.63%) 132.75
  • Staffline Group +100.00 (+8.20%) 1,320.00
  • Dart Group Plc +27.75 (+7.03%) 422.75
  • Boohoo.com +1.75 (+6.80%) 27.50

FTSE AIM 100 biggest fallers

  • RKHRockhopper Exploration Plc -3.50 (-5.24%) 63.25
  • SPHSinclair IS Pharma Plc -1.00 (-2.50%) 39.00
  • MONIMonitise Plc -0.25 (-2.33%) 10.50
  • PLUSPlus500 Ltd -7.75 (-1.99%) 382.25
  • Silence Therapeutics Plc -6.00 (-1.97%) 298.00