** UK handily outpacing a weak FTSE 100 index, assome investors start to factor in the likelihood of Scotlandvoting against a move to separate from the UK on Sept. 18.
** Lloyds, which owns Bank of Scotland, rises 2percent to a day high providing the biggest boost to the FTSE100, while Barclays up 1 percent & RBS climbs1.3 percent.
** The FTSE 100 itself is down by 0.1 percent.
** "I would say that banks have been stronger over the lastfew sessions and if Scotland remains part of the UK, you couldsee a bank-led rally," says Securequity sales trader JawaidAfsar.
** Scottish supporters of staying in the United Kingdom were4 percentage points ahead of those in favour of independence,three different opinion polls showed, although the final resultis still seen by some as too close to call. (RM://sudip.kargupta.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)