(Reuters) – London’s FTSE 100 index climbed on Wednesday buoyed by gains in financial and consumer staple stocks after six straight sessions of losses, while shares of retailer WH Smith rose on strong annual outlook. The FTSE 100 was up 0.7% by 0713 GMT, with shares in Asia-focused bank HSBC gaining 1.3% to provide the biggest boost to the blue-chip index. Whitbread rose 3.3% and was among the top gainers on the index after the Premier Inn owner reported higher total sales in the first quarter following a recovery in hotel stays in the UK and Germany. The domestically focussed mid-cap FTSE 250…