LONDON - Britain's top share index gained 0.7 percent, reaching levels not seen since before the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008, as strength in heavyweight miners countered weakness in banks and oils.

At the close, the FTSE 100 was 35.2 points higher at 5,437.61, a fresh 15 month peak and registering a fifth straight session of gains.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares ticked higher in thin trade, hitting their highest close in 15 months for the fourth consecutive session, with miners the leading gainers.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading European shares closed 0.2 percent higher at 1,046.89 points, rising for the sixth straight sessions.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 6,011.55 points, up 8.63 or 0.14 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,959.98 points, up 12.83 or 0.33 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,608.52 points, up 17.51 or 0.27 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,759.33 points, up 76.92 or 0.32 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average eked out a four-month closing high, buoyed by trading firms such as Mitsui after gains in oil and metals prices, while automakers also edged up.

In thin and choppy trade on the second to last trading day of 2009, the Nikkei spent much of the day in negative territory before edging up a mere 3.83 points to 10,638.06.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares erased losses to end sluggish trading slightly firmer. China shares rose on optimism over economic recovery and corporate earnings.

The Hang Seng Index ended up 0.09 percent or 19.22 points at 21,499.44.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian stocks rose 1.1 percent to a nine-week closing high after strong performances by resource and bank stocks and fresh merger interest in farm-chemicals group Nufarm. The S&P/ASX 200 index closed up 54.3 points at 4,845.1, its highest close since October 23.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's rand jumped more than 1.7 percent to a near-two-week high against the dollar in thin trade but the local bourse fell as the stronger currency hit export-oriented stocks including miners.

The All-share index closed at 27,655.21 points, down 233.7 or 0.84 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,373.83 points, down 73.29 or 2.99 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 21,608.99 points, down 164.57 or 0.76 percent.