By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.K. stocks moved higher for a second
straight session on Wednesday, tracking overnight gains in Asia and
the U.S., as investors waited for the latest policy decision from
the U.S. Federal Reserve.
The FTSE 100 index climbed 0.5% to 6,435.47, building on a 0.6%
advance from Tuesday. The broader European markets were also on the
rise, with all eyes on the Fed. The Federal Open Market Committee
is expected announce an end to its bond-buying program, but vow to
keep rates low for a considerable amount of time, in a decision
expected at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, or 6 p.m. London time.
Mining shares posted some of the biggest gains in the U.K.
benchmark, with shares of Randgold Resources Ltd. up 2.2%, Glencore
PLC rising 1.7% and BHP Billiton PLC (BHP) adding 1%.
On a more downbeat note, shares of Next PLC lost 2.7% after the
clothing retailer cut its full-year pretax profit guidance.
Standard Life PLC dropped 1.6% even after the insurer said it
has seen assets under management grow across all of its markets and
has expanded its customer base in the U.K.
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