<div><p>Shares in London ended on a firm note Wednesday as investors digested the Bank of England's latest assessment on the recession-hit economy.</p><p>The FTSE 100 index rose 0.69 percent to 5,266.75 points.</p><p>Telecom giant Vodafone was the most traded stock with traders exchanging 179 million shares, followed by beleaguered bank RBS which saw 103 million units switch hands.</p><p>Randgold was the session's star performer gaining 281 pence -- or 6.14 percent -- to finish at 4858. Fresnillo followed climbing 49.50 pence -- or 5.88 percent -- to stand at 892.</p><p>Reed Elsevier was the biggest casualty tumbling 19.50 pence -- or 4.02 percent -- to finish at 465. Cobham was next falling 4.30 pence -- or 1.86 percent -- to end at 226.9</p><p>The pound lost ground against the euro and the dollar.</p><p>At 16:58, sterling was trading at $1.6589, down from $1.6745 at Tuesday's close. The pound fell against the euro, dropping to 1.1077, down from 1.1171 over the same period.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=63133003&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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