Source: Sharecast
The FTSE 100 was called to open around 20 points higher.
Figures released earlier by the Office for National Statistics showed that retail sales rose 1.2% on the month in April following a 0.1% increase in March, which was revised down from a 0.4% jump.
Analysts had been expecting a 0.3% increase.
ONS senior statistician Hannah Finselbach said: "Sunny skies and warm temperatures helped boost retail sales in April with strong trading across most sectors.
"After a poor couple of months, food sales bounced back with supermarkets reporting robust sales, while it was also a positive month for butchers and bakers, alcohol and tobacco stores.
"Conversely, after a good March, clothing sales fell this month, although it was a brighter picture for department stores and household good shops whose sales grew."
Elsewhere, a survey showed that consumer confidence ticked higher in May on improved expectations for the UK economy.
The latest GfK consumer confidence barometer rose three points month-on-month to -20, although that remains below the -17 recorded in May 2024.
Driving the improvement was a five-point jump in personal finance expectations over the next 12 months, which took the sub-index into positive territory with a reading of 2.
The outlook for the economy over the coming year also strengthened, up two points at -33.
The major purchase index rose three points to -16, the highest since the end of 2024. In contrast the savings index - which is not included in the overall score - shed two points to 28.
Neil Bellamy, consumer insights director at GfK, said consumers may have "taken comfort" from the latest interest rate reduction.
In addition, the initial panic surrounding Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariff regime has faded marginally, after the US president scaled back some of the more stringent duties and struck deals with both China and the UK.
That helped settle markets and ease medium-term fears about the impact of a trade war on both the global economy and inflation.
Bellamy said: "Those dangers - especially the issue of inflation - have not disappeared, but the consumer mood in the UK does appear to have improved a little."
In corporate news, Warhammer maker Games Workshop said its current-year licensing revenue would not match 2024/25’s record of £50m, adding that pre-tax profit for the 52 weeks to 1 June would be at least £255m, smashing estimates of £225m.
Pharma group GSK announced that US regulators have approved for use its Nucala treatment for adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) following positive results from phase III trials.
Nucala, otherwise known as mepolizumab, is now the only approved biologic studied in a wide COPD population with an eosinophilic phenotype, GSK said.
AJ Bell reported a 17% rise in revenue to £153.2m and a 12% increase in pre-tax profit to £68.8m for the six months ended 31 March, supported by strong customer and asset growth.
The FTSE 250 company said it added 51,000 platform customers, lifting assets under administration to a record £90.4bn, and announced further shareholder returns including a 4.5p interim dividend and a new £25m buyback.
It said it had also agreed to sell its Platinum SIPP and SSAS business to InvestAcc for up to £25m, and raised its full-year revenue margin guidance despite accelerating investment and higher costs.