London’s markets were higher Wednesday, with the FTSE adding 0.41 percent to 6,306.2 and the FTSE 250 gaining 0.07 percent to 11,219.7.

Aerospace and defense group BAE Systems (LSE: BA) had the best day on the 100, adding 3.18 percent to 478.25p, while engineering and construction firm AMEC (LSE: AMEC) was the best performer on the 250 with a gain of 4.5 percent to 731.5p.

The chemicals sector was higher.

Johnson Matthey (LSE: JMAT) was up 2.3 percent to £16.03, while Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RB) added 2.74 percent to £27.39.

British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS; AMEX: BTI; KLSE: BAT) gained 2.57 to £16.79, which consumer goods retailer Home Retail (LSE: HOME) was up 2.5 percent to 410.75p.

Carphone Warehouse (LSE: CPW) added 3.38 percent to 352p on the news that it will jump from the 250 to the 100 beginning on September 24.

Tullow Oil (LSE: TLW) and Taylor Wimpey (LSE: TW) will also reportedly be promoted to the 100. Insurers saw declines on the day.

Standard Life (LSE: SLET) fell 1.2 percent to 288.75p, while Legal & General (LSE: LGEN) was the worst performer on the 100 with a drop of 2.27 percent to 133.4p.

Pest control group Rentokil Initial (LSE: RTO; OTC: RTOKY) was 1.29 percent lower to 168.7p, while media group ITV fell 1.51 percent to 111p after it said it would sell assets and cut jobs to increase core output.

Brewer SAB Miller (LSE: SAB) was down 1.7 percent to £13.28.

The biggest loser on the 250 was International Personal Finance (LSE: IPF), with a decline of 4.78 percent to 224.25.

London’s markets saw declines Wednesday.

The FTSE 100 dropped 1.66 percent to 6,270.7 and the FTSE 250 was down 1.83 percent to 11,300.7.

The mining sector provided the best performer on the 100 as Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) added 3.07 percent to £18.47.

Of the two other gainers on the 100 during the day another miner, Lonmin (LSE: LMI) was up 0.37 percent to £32.27.

The only other winner on the 100 was in the pharmaceuticals sector, with Shire (LSE: SHP; NAS: SHPGY) up 0.62 percent to £13.03.

The best performance on 250 came from personal loan provider International Personal Finance (LSE: IPF), which added 5.66 percent to 224p.

Construction and civil engineering group Interserve (LSE: IRV) was up 3.8 percent to 492p, while internet gambler PartyGaming (LSE: PRTY) was 2.73 percent higher to 28.25p.

Banks were lower after Lehman Brothers (NYSE: LEH) made negative comments about the mortgage sector.

Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) had the worst day on the 100 as it dropped 5.33 percent to 693p, while Alliance & Leicester (LSE: AL) fell 4.44 percent to £10.11.

Among insurers, Royal Sun & Alliance (LSE: RSA) was down 3.85 percent to 139.9p.

Food processor Tate & Lyle (LSE: TATE) was down 4.54 percent to 536.5p, and pubs operator Punch Taverns (LSE: PUB) was down 3.79 percent to £10.66.

Avis Europe (LSE: AVE) was 7 percent lower on the 250 to 46.5p, while waste management firm Shanks Group (LSE: SKS) fell 6.06 percent to 232.5p.