Nov 10 (Reuters) - London"s FTSE 100 rose to its best session in nearly a month on Wednesday, aided by a weaker poundand gains in banks, while Marks & Spencer surged after the retailer beat first-half profit forecasts and upgraded its annual forecast. The export-heavy FTSE 100(.FTSE) gained 0.9%, with large dollar earners including Diageo(DGE.L), Unilever(ULVR.L), British American Tobacco (BATS.L), Reckitt Benckiser (RKT.L) boosted by a weaker pound and banks (.FTNMX301010) up 0.9%. Sterling fell 0.55%, extending losses after U.S. consumer prices recorded their largest year-on-year advance since November 1990. Meanwhile, precious metal miners (.FTNMX551030) recouped early losses to end 3.6% higher following the U.S. inflation data, fuelled by an over 1% rally in gold, considered a hedge against rising prices. Marks & Spencer (MKS.L) surged 16.5% to its highest since January 2020, helping the domestically focussed FTSE 250 (.FTMC) advance 0.3%, after the clothing and food group raised its full-year outlook for the second time this year. read more "Their online aspects are really encouraging, as well as the food business. M&S has been weathering this difficult phase very well and that is why we"re seeing such a strong rebound in the share price," said Craig Erlam, a market analyst at Oanda. The FTSE 100 is up 13.4% this year but has underperformed its European and U.S. peers amid fears over inflation, supply chain problems and surging energy costs. Heavyweight drugmaker AstraZeneca (AZN.L) gained 1.0% after it announced plans to create a separate division for vaccines and antibody therapies. read more Cycle retailer Halfords Group Plc (HFD.L) jumped 19.8% after it raised its full-year earnings forecast as supply chain disruptions were beginning to ease. ITV (ITV.L), Britain"s biggest free-to-air commercial broadcaster, advanced 15.1% and was the top gainer on the index after saying it expected to deliver record total advertising revenue this year. read more Reporting by Bansari Mayur Kamdar and Amal S in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Bernadette Baum