LONDON -- The FTSE 100 (INDEX: ^FTSE) is continuing on up, gaining 30 points to 5,900 by early afternoon, which is less than 100 points away from its 52-week high of 5,989. All we need is for Europe not to melt down over the next few weeks, and we could be in for a new high!

Meanwhile, individual companies are running ahead of the index as good news comes in from a number of sectors. Here are three names that are rising nicely today and look set to beat the FTSE.

RBS (LSE: RBS.L)
Royal Bank of Scotland enjoyed a modest lift, up 1.7% to 285 pence after the bailed-out bank announced it is now able to leave the government's Asset Protection Scheme, effective tomorrow. The scheme was a means of providing support for the bank's turnaround plans, and the exit -- at the earliest opportunity possible for RBS -- should help support the growing sentiment toward the bank.

Forecasts do suggest a significant return to profit this year, so are the banks sufficiently rehabilitated to invest in now? Only you can decide that.

Cable & Wireless (LSE: CWC.L)
Cable & Wireless Communications received a 3.8% boost this morning after the global telecommunications company confirmed press speculation that it is in discussions with CITIC Telecom International concerning a possible sale of its 51% stake in Companhia de Telecomunicacoes de Macau.

Cable & Wireless Communications shares had a poor first six months of 2012, but since June they've been recovering nicely, and there's a whopping 7% dividend forecast for the full year to March 2013. It won't be very well-covered, but earnings are expected to rise the following year.

Looking for strong dividend-yielders such as C&W is a popular strategy, and you can find out how ace dividend investor Neil Woodford's regularly beats the market by reading the Motley Fool report "8 Shares Held By Britain's Super Investor." It's free for a limited period only, so click here to get your copy.

Centamin (LSE: CEY.L)
Centamin, the Egypt-based gold miner, popped a further 3.7% to 103 pence today. The move was helped by upbeat reports on the outlook for gold and recent confirmation that the firm still expects to meet its full-year targets.

Centamin's shares have nearly doubled since June, but they're still not back up to their 52-week high of 117 pence, mind. However, with a forecast full-year P/E ratio of less than nine, there could still be further to go.

Getting valuable things out of the ground can be profitable, if risky. But if you're looking at something more useful than gold, the latest Motley Fool report, "How To Unearth Great Oil & Gas Shares," should help you find your way. It's free for a limited time, so click here to get your personal copy.

Further Motley Fool investment opportunities: