LONDON - Britain's top share index closed higher for a fourth straight day, led by miners buoyed by firmer metals prices and offsetting a sharp fall in BP. The FTSE 100 index closed up 38.45 points, or 0.74 percent, at 5,202.13, its highest close since June 3.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares rose to the highest close in a month, with banks and miners among the biggest gainers, as optimism on global economic recovery led some investors to cover short positions. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares rose 1.1 percent to end the day provisionally at 1,029.59 points, the highest close since May 13.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 6,125 points, up 77.17 or 1.28 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,626.04 points, up 70.52 or 1.98 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,472.12 points, up 45.38 or 0.71 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 20,767.97 points, up 512.74 or 2.53 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - The Nikkei average climbed 1.8 percent, ending near a key resistance level as short-covering emerged on a sense that the market had been oversold, with investors also taking heart from gains in the euro.

In light trade, the Nikkei climbed 174.6 points to 9,879.85, its highest finish in about a week and slightly missing its 25-day moving average of just above 9,880.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Stocks rose 0.9 percent, tracking a Wall Street rally spurred by a jump in U.S. consumer confidence, but gains were capped by chart resistance from which the benchmark index has repeatedly backed away this month. The Hang Seng Index ended up 179.53 points at 20,051.91 in thin volume volume trading.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian markets closed were closed for the Queens Birthday holiday. They will reopen today. On Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 70.1 points to close at 4,505.5.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's assets gained, reflecting a broad-based global markets rally that was mainly driven by higher risk appetite. The All-share index closed at 27,446.09 points, up 596.92 or 2.22 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,516.65 points, up 10.36 or 0.41 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 21,969.62 points, up 379.74 or 1.76 percent.