Stock indices traded higher as concerns over the situation in the Middle East eased. Turkey shot down the Russian jet near the Syria's border on Tuesday. The jet should have violated Turkish airspace.

Russia's defence ministry said the jet did not violate Turkish airspace. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Turkey's action was a "stab in the back by the terrorists' accomplices" and that this action would have serious consequences.

The British Bankers' Association (BBA) released the number of mortgage approvals in the U.K. on Wednesday. The number of mortgage approvals increased to 45,437 in October from 44,825 in September. September's figure was revised down from 44,489.

"These statistics show that housing market activity remained strong in October. Consumers remain confident and their incomes are growing. Mortgage rates are at multi-year lows and people are snapping up the very competitive deals being offered by banks," the chief economist at the BBA, Richard Woolhouse, said.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,335.25 +58.02 +0.93 %

DAX 11,094.64 +160.65 +1.46 %

CAC 40 4,890.49 +70.21 +1.49 %