British stocks rose on Wednesday, with the benchmark FTSE 100 Index down 17.49 points or 0.23 percent at 7,748.51 points.

Royal Bank of Scotland Group, a major British commercial bank, soared 4.60 percent, the top gainer of the blue chips. HSBC Holdings and Prudential increased by 3.81 percent and 3.28 percent, respectively.

The British housebuilding company Taylor Wimpey was the worst performer in the blue chips, with its shares losing 4.16 percent. Paddy Power Betfair, a large British bookmaking business, dropped 3.69 percent. Rolls-Royce Holdings, a British pre-eminent engineering company, dropped 3.21 percent.