LONDON - Upbeat results from JP Morgan boosted banks while energy and pharmaceutical stocks also gained, leading Britain's top share index to close at a one-month high, up for a fourth session.

The index was trading in slightly negative territory in early trade but the JP Morgan results which were announced around mid-session lifted the FTSE 100 which closed 0.3 percent, or 15.38 points up at 4,361.84.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares hit a one-month closing high on improved sentiment following a jump in JPMorgan Chase's profits and data showing the number of US workers claiming new jobless benefits fell last week.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares provisionally ended 0.5 percent higher at 867.67 points, the highest close since June 12 and a positive finish for a fourth straight session.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 4,957.19 points, up 28.75 or 0.58 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,199.68 points, up 28.41 or 0.90 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,538.57 points, up 65.24 or 1.19 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 19,894.58 points, up 113.33 or 0.57 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei share average climbed 0.8 percent as high-tech exporters gained on a weaker yen and after results from Intel Corp. fuelled hopes for a rebound in technology spending.

The Nikkei gained 74.91 points to 9,344.16.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Shares in Hong Kong rose for a third session with expectations for a global economic turnaround fuelling the upswing, but the main index ended well short of its high as some stocks succumbed to profit-taking.

The Hang Seng Index finished up 0.5 percent or 103.21 points at 18,361.87.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian stocks rose for a third day, posting their highest close in a month, after upbeat US company earnings and better-than-expected growth figures from China boosted global economic recovery hopes.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 71.1 points to 3,995.6, its highest close since June 15.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South African blue chips stocks fell, snapping a seven-day winning streak, hit by lower gold mining stocks which fell with the gold price, but government bonds rallied after a ratings upgrade.

The All-share index closed at 23,499.99 points, down 69.2 or 0.29 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,330.14 points, down 62.08 or 2.6 percent.