FTSE ticks higher on positive China data

The FTSE 100 opened 0.5% higher in early trading on Wednesday after firm economic data from China spurred sentiment.

As of shortly after 9.30am, London's leading index was 20 points higher at 5,245.

China's official purchasing managers' index rose to 51.7 in August from a 17-month low of 51.2 in July, causing an improvement in commodity prices and overall sentiment.

Miners led the way on the FTSE, with silver miner Fresnillo advancing 3.85% to £11.32.

Elsewhere, TUI Travel gained 3.33% to 208p while InterContinental Hotels Group climbed 1.78% to 999.5p.

Early morning casualties include ARM Holdings, down 1.58% to 361p, and British Airways, which fell 1.09% to 208.7p.

On Wall Street, US stocks slumped to their worst August in nine years, as investors retreated on fears for the US economy.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the month down 4.3%, the worst since May.

Intraday, the index was unchanged, closing up 0.05% or 4.99 points to 10,014.72.

In Japan, the Nikkei edged up 1.17%, or 102.96 points, to 8927.02.