LONDON - A broad-based rally in the stock market saw Britain's top share index recording gains for a sixth straight day, with banks leading the surge and commodity shares jumping on stronger crude oil and metal prices. The FTSE 100 closed at 4,443.62 points, up 54.87 or 1.25 percent.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:eurofirst
EUROPE - European shares rose for a sixth straight session to a five-week closing high on further evidence of recovery in the US, and a rescue package for lender CIT.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares rose 1.2 percent to 881.19 points, its highest close since June 12. The index has gained 8.2 percent in the past six sessions and is up 36.5 percent from the lifetime low it hit on March 9.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:euromarkets
FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,030.15 points, up 51.75 or 1.04 percent.
PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,270.94 points, up 52.48 or 1.63 percent.
ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,627.93 points, up 33.79 or 0.6 percent.
MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 20,207.91 points, up 248.77 or 1.25 percent.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei
TOKYO - Japanese markets were closed today for the Marine day national holiday. They will reopen tomorrow. On Friday in thin trade, the Nikkei added 51.16 points to 9,395.32.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng
HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares soared 3.7 percent in their fifth straight winning session to a level last seen in the wake of Lehman Brothers' collapse and after data last week reinforced investor faith in China's economy. The benchmark Hang Seng Index finished 696.71 points higher at 19,502.37, after hitting 19,506.42 points earlier, its highest level since September 22, 2008.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx
SYDNEY - Australian shares rose 1.2 percent to their highest close in six weeks, led up by mining stocks such as BHP Billiton on firmer metals prices and optimism on the global economic outlook. The S&P/ASX 200 index gained 49.5 points to 4,050.3, its best finish since June 12.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's bourse edged higher as miners and banks drove the blue-chip index to the highest level in more than six weeks, while the rand rallied to a two-week high. The All-share index closed at 23,655.48 points, up 112.37 or 0.48 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,399.58 points, up 71.12 or 3.05 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 18,765.09 points, up 17.02 or 0.09 percent.
