The FTSE 100 share index rose marginally on Wednesday. The index finished the day rising 4.1 points to 6,216.0 (up 0.1 per cent).

Financials performed badly with Bradford & Bingley falling 9.3 per cent after news of a £300 million rights issue. Alliance & Leicester was also down 2.8 per cent while Barclays fell 2.4 per cent.

Miners however were buoyant with Anglo American, Antofagasta, BHP Billiton, Eurasian Natural Resources, Rio Tinto and Vedanta Resources up 1.0-7.2 per cent.

Catering company Compass also did well, rising 4.6 per cent after news of better than forecast profit increases.

Losers of the day included transport firm FirstGroup, down 6.3 per cent, house-builder Persimmon down 5.2 per cent and supermarket J Sainsbury, down 3.9 per cent.

Ftse