LONDON - Britain's FTSE 100 share index gained 0.7 percent, boosted by heavyweight oils and pharmas as a fairly broad-based pre-Christmas rally moved into its second session. The FTSE 100 closed at 5,328.66 points, up 34.67 or 0.65 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares rose to their highest close in 14 months, with energy stocks gaining and US home sales data boosting sentiment.

In thin trade ahead of the Christmas holiday season, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares rose 0.7 percent to 1,034.86 points, its highest close since October 3, 2008.

Energy shares were among the biggest gainers, even as crude prices fell to about $73.40 a barrel, after OPEC oil producers agreed to leave output targets unchanged.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,945.69 points, up 15.16 or 0.26 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,898.38 points, up 26.32 or 0.68 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,582.9 points, up 78.46 or 1.21 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,367.74 points, up 217.91 or 0.94 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average rose 1.9 percent to a three-month closing high as a weaker yen lifted exporters, while Isuzu Motors jumped on a report that the truck maker wants to develop new diesel engines for General Motors. In moderate trade, the Nikkei gained 194.56 points to 10,378.03, its highest finish since September 24.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares trimmed early gains to end firmer, shaking off five straight sessions of losses. The Hang Seng Index ended up 0.69 percent or 143.94 points at 21,092.04, rebounding from a two-and-a-half month low on Monday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian stocks gained 1.5 percent, boosted by banks and miners, as investors looked ahead to the prospect of more merger activity buoying the market in the new year. The S&P/ASX 200 index gained 69.1 points to 4,704.2, making its gains for the calendar year 26 percent up to yesterday and putting it on track for the best year since 1993.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South African stocks climbed for a fourth session, hitting a near-17-month closing high, buoyed by Christmas rally, while the rand edged firmer after sliding sharply the previous session.

The All-share index closed at 27,621.93 points, up 126.51 or 0.46 percent.

The All Gold index closed at 2,446.79 points, down 2.01 or 0.08 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 21,571.02 points, up 116.82 or 0.54 percent.