UK stocks : FTSE 100 index adds 0.7 pct

UK stocks closing: Britain's top shares hit their highest level in more than a month on Wednesday, propelled by strength in risk-sensitive commodity stocks ahead of economic growth data from top consumer China.

Gains by miners and energy stocks accounted for nearly all the FTSE 100 index's gains - adding 21 points and 16 points respectively - on expectations that Thursday's third-quarter GDP data from China will provide a boost to demand for commodities.

China's economic situation in the third quarter was relatively good, Premier Wen Jiabao was quoted by local media as saying on Wednesday, and the government is confident of achieving its 2012 growth target of 7.5 percent.

However, the third-quarter GDP, forecast at 7.4 percent, would still undercut the slowest growth rate in three years seen in the second quarter and leave the door open to more stimulus measures from China which would provide a boost for commodities.

Among miners, BHP Billiton added 3.3 percent as the firm joined rival Rio Tinto in pressing on with plans to boost iron ore output despite a volatile market caused by China's uncertain economic outlook.

British oil major BP was the stand-out performer, alone providing almost a quarter of the blue chip advance.

BP added 2.9 percent in solid volume of over double its 90-day daily average as investors awaited news on the future of the group's Russian joint venture, TNK-BP.

The AAR consortium of billionaires that owns half of TNK-BP has agreed to sell its 50 percent stake to Russia's state-controlled oil producer Rosneft for $28 billion, according to a source familiar with the matter.

BP has put its 50 percent stake in the troubled partnership up for sale, but a disposal by AAR would clear the way for the firm to forge a strategic alliance with Rosneft.

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