listed rival AstraZeneca was benefiting as investors selling Roche bought its shares, sending them up 2.1 percent. Mining stocks were a standout, with the DJ Basic Resources sector up 1.1 percent as analysts continued to revise earnings expectations higher amid optimism of solid Chinese economic growth. Anglo-American was up 1.8 percent after 45 percent owned diamond producer De Beers announced plans to cut production and jobs to reduce losses at a South African mine. Anglo-Dutch consumer products group Unilever was another strong performer, adding 3.2 percent in London. Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to "overweight" on Wednesday, saying the negative consensus could be about to change. Continued merger and acquisition talk following Procter & Gamble's takeover bid for Gillette, along with speculation of a change to Unilever's dual shareholder structure, also sparked interest in the stock, dealers added. --More 2103 Local Time 1803 GMT
