Created: Jul 07, 2007 11:00 AM
LONDON — Britain's top share index ended up 0.8 percent, led by heavyweight oil stocks as crude prices surged to an 11-month high above $76 a barrel and shrugged off better than expected US jobs growth. The FTSE 100 closed up 54.9 points, or 0.83 percent at 6,690.1, for a weekly gain of 1.2 percent, or 82.2 points.ROUNDUP:EUROFIRSTEUROPE — European shares rose as surging oil prices boosted the shares of energy firms, partially offsetting the impact of US jobs data that dashed expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut in the next year. Oil stocks were the biggest positive weight on the broader market as crude futures shot above $75 a barrel to their highest level in almost a year and oil shares also benefitted from broker upgrades to the sector. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares ended up 0.63 percent at 1,619.83 points.ROUNDUP:EUROpean marketsFRANKFURT — The DAX index ended at 8048.32 points, up 61.19 or 0.77 percent on the day and adding 41 points over the week.
PARIS — The CAC-40 index closed at 6102.69 points, up 43.16 or 0.71 percent, climbing 47.76 since last Friday.
ZURICH — The Swiss market index closed at 9263.97 points, up 44.6 or 0.48 percent, rising 54.61 since last weekend.
MILAN — The All Share Mibtel index closed at 33188 points, up 184 or 0.56 percent.The index gained 302 points in the week.ROUNDUP:nikkeiTOKYO — Japan's Nikkei average slipped 0.44 percent in slow trade as investors took profits in Canon and other recent gainers following a six-day winning streak.
The Nikkei finished down 80.54 points at 18,140.94, up 2.58 points from a week ago.ROUNDUP:hang sengHONG KONG — Hong Kong stocks swerved from losses to a 1.3 percent gain after mainland bourses rebounded sharply, setting off a broad-based rally that sent the market to its fourth-straight record high. The Hang Seng Index closed up 278.75 points at 22,531.74, falling 240.99 points on the week.ROUNDUP:asxSYDNEY — Australian shares fell 0.2 percent as a rise in US bond yields hurt rate-sensitive financial stocks, while a strong Aussie dollar weighed down on firms with big offshore earnings like Westfield Group. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 11.2 points to 6,351.1, rising 76.2 points over the week.ROUNDUP:south africaJOHANNESBURG — BHP Billiton buoyed South African shares on firm base metal prices and lingering consolidation talk within the sector, and Standard Bank led banks higher on a positive research note. The All-share index closed at 29218.33 points, up 321.97 or 1.11 percent, gaining 881.11 points in the week.