LONDON (AFP) –
The London stock market closed firmer on Wednesday as retailer Marks and Spencer reported strong sales and commodity prices spiked.

The FTSE 100 index added 2.15 percent to close at 4,340.71 points.

Vodafone was the most widely-traded stock, seeing 173 million units change hands, followed by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) which saw 133 million shares switch owners.

Miner Vedanta dominated the board closing up 127 pence -- or 6.62 percent -- at 253.75 followed by International Power, climbing 15.75 pence -- or 6.62 percent -- to stand at 253.75.

MAN Group led the fallers, shedding 15.50 pence -- or 5.59 percent -- to close at 262, followed by Lloyds which lost 1.68 pence -- or 2.40 percent -- to end at 68.25.

Elsewhere, the pound was up against the dollar but caved in to the euro.

Sterling was worth 1.6513 dollars at 15:58 BST, rising from 1.6461 at Tuesday's close, while it fell to 1.1681 euros from 1.1730 over the same period.