LONDON (AFP) - The FTSE was higher on Tuesday as travel companies benefited from the fall in oil prices, analysts said.

By mid afternoon, the FTSE 100 index of top shares showed a gain of 0.31 percent at 5,620.40 points compared to Monday's lower finish.

Oil prices plunged to four-month lows of 105 dollars a barrel on Tuesday, after Hurricane Gustav spared energy facilities in the Gulf of Mexico and the US currency strengthened.

Travel group Thomas Cook was one of the top two gainers, adding 7.83 percent -- or 18 pence -- closely followed by cruise ship operatorCarnival, which also added 7.83 percent -- or 148 pence.

Companies were also lifted by the weakness of the pound, CMC Markets analyst Matt Buckland said.

"UK companies stand to benefit from the pound's seemingly endless decline as exports priced in sterling get cheaper and any overseas profits become more valuable," he said.

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