FTSE 100 shares slip slightly (AFP)

LONDON (AFP) – Stocks slipped slightly on Wednesday as investors waited for the end of a US Federal Reserve policy meeting.

The benchmark FTSE 100 index of top shares dropped 0.04 percent to 5,772.99 points.

Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) was the most widely traded stock of the day, with 123 million shares changing hands, followed by Vodafone, which saw 96.9 million units switch owners.

Man Group was the best blue-chip performer, rising 4.86 percent -- or 11.20 pence -- to finish at 241.8, followed by Randgold, which rose 3.03 percent -- or 145 pence -- at 4928.

United Utilities was the biggest faller of the day, shedding 3.44 percent -- or 20.50 pence -- to close at 575, followed by Severn Trent, which slipped 3.12 percent -- or 45 pence -- to finish at 1398.

On the currency markets, a pound was worth 1.6125 dollars at 17:03 BST, up from 1.5245 at the same time Tuesday, while it stood at 1.1207 euros, down from 1.1272 over the same period.