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LONDON (AFP) –
The leading stock exchange finished higher on Wednesday, following publication of positive US housing sector data, traders said.
The FTSE 100 index gained 0.82 percent to end the day at 5,372.38 points.
RBS was the most traded stock, seeing 69.3 million units change hands, followed by peer Lloyds, which saw 64.1 million shares switch owners.
Eurasian topped the leader board, gaining 33.00 pence -- or 3.80 percent -- to finish at 901, as metals prices advanced.
The day's second-best performer was gold miner Randgold, up 184 pence -- or 3.73 percent -- to stand at 5,115.
The session's biggest loser was energy firm Cairn, which lost 14.40 pence -- or 4.25 percent -- to close at 324.6.
It was followed by telecom company BT, which shed 4.30 pence -- or 3.03 percent -- to finish at 137.5.
Sterling gained ground against the euro but lost ground against the dollar.
At 17:12, the pound was trading at $1.5956, down from $1.5965 at Tuesday's close. Against the euro, the pound stood at 0.8986 euros, up from 0.8927 over the same period.
