LONDON - Britain's top share index ended sharply higher, snapping a four-day losing streak, with commodity and banking stocks rallying after comments by a senior US Federal Reserve official. The FTSE 100 index finished up 104.09 points, or 1.98 percent, at 5,355.5 and recorded its biggest one-day percentage rise in more than six weeks. The index closed 16.29 points lower on Friday after falling in the previous three sessions.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares recorded their biggest one-day percentage gain in more than five weeks, with better-than-expected US housing data boosting optimism on the economy and banks and commodity shares gaining. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares rose 2.1 percent to 1,023.49 points, the biggest one-day percentage gain since October 14.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,801.48 points, up 138.33 or 2.44 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,813.17 points, up 83.81 or 2.25 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,410.24 points, up 132.78 or 2.12 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,393.94 points, up 439.58 or 1.92 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - The Japanese stock was closed for a public holiday, Labor Thanksgiving day. On Friday, the Nikkei fell 0.54 percent or 51.79 points to a four-month closing low of 9,497.68.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Shares snapped a four-session loss to end 1.41 percent higher, spurred by gains in Chinese financial issues on optimism the mainland would extend its loose monetary policy until next year. The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed up 315.55 points at 22,771.39.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Stocks rose 0.67 percent (32.5 points), driven by stronger resources stocks and a surge in gold miners as investors rotated out of what was perceived as the Sydney All Ordinaries Index hit 4,739.2.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - The Johannesburg All Share Index climbed 494.22 points (1.84 percent) to 27,423.47.