LONDON - Britain's top shares ended up 0.3 percent, led by pharmaceuticals on hopes US President Barack Obama's healthcare reforms could be hampered, while banks fell after results from US bank Citigroup.

The FTSE 100 index rose 18.75 points at 5,513.14, extending Monday's gains when the market rose 0.7 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares rose, hitting their highest close in more than 15 months, boosted by drugmakers while Cadbury hit record highs after the firm accepted a $19.6 billion takeover offer from Kraft.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 closed 0.8 percent higher at 1,069.03 points, reversing losses from earlier in the session when the index fell to a one-week low of 1,050.34.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,976.48 points, up 57.93 or 0.98 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 4,009.67 points, up 32.21 or 0.81 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,633.86 points, up 30.08 or 0.46 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 24,139.73 points, up 186.25 or 0.78 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei share average edged down 0.8 percent, with exporters such as Honda Motor hurt by a stronger yen, while investors locked in profits in the wake of a recent rally.

The Nikkei fell 90.18 points to 10,764.9. The index has faltered after hitting 15-month highs last week.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares closed up 1.02 percent, ending five consecutive sessions of losses, with Chinese banks leading a technical rebound after recent weakness as China signalled a tighter monetary policy last week.

The Hang Seng Index ended up 217.97 points at 21,677.98.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian stocks fell one percent on profit-taking in bank shares after two straight days of gains and on investor caution ahead of the corporate earnings season.

The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 49.9 points, to 4,861.2, after rising 0.2 percent on Monday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South African stocks ended barely changed as investors balanced disappointing US earnings and the surging price of platinum, while the rand held firm despite a weaker euro.

The All-share index slipped 0.05 percent, or just 13.04 points, to 28,086.66 points. The All Gold index closed at 2,382.95 points, down 12 or 0.5 percent, the Industrial index closed at 21,321.46 points, down 72.2 or 0.34 percent.