LONDON - Britain's leading share index rose, boosted by a jump on British Airways on the back of mixed traffic numbers but volumes were thinned by closure in US markets for holiday.

The FTSE closed 33.3 points or 0.5 percent higher at 6,673.1.ROUNDUP:EUROFIRSTEUROPE - European equities ended stronger for the second straight session, with a key benchmark hitting its highest closing level in two weeks, but volume was stifled by a US holiday.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.4 percent to a 1,620.18, its strongest close since June 20, and up nine percent so far this year, boosted by corporate take-overs and strong earnings.

About 1.8 billion shares were traded, about half the average daily volume traded so far this year.ROUNDUP:EUROmarketsFRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 8075.26 points, up 24.58 or 0.31 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 6098.08 points, up 28.24 or 0.47 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 9294.51 points, up 54.2 or 0.59 percent.

MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 33219 points, up 49 or 0.15 percent.ROUNDUP:nikkeiTOKYO - The Nikkei share average inched to its fifth straight advance as Mitsumi Electric and other technology stocks followed a rise in similar US firms.

The Nikkei average finished up 0.10 percent, or 18.82 points, at 18,168.72.ROUNDUP:hang sengHONG KONG - Hong Kong stocks rose 0.3 percent, as bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing shot up amid strong trading volumes and advancing crude prices lifted oil issues.

The Hang Seng index closed up 67.41 points at 22,218.55.ROUNDUP:asxSYDNEY - Australian shares barely moved, capped by profit taking in recent gainers such as Woolworths, though BHP Billiton rose after it approved the development of a major oil project.

The S&P/ASX 200 index closed down just 0.4 point, or 0.01 percent, to 6,298.6.ROUNDUP:south africaJOHANNESBURG - South African shares inched higher in thin trading as Impala Platinum gained amid talk of sector consolidation.

The All-share index closed at 28844.31 points, up 89.28 or 0.31 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2434.98 points, down 36.01 or 1.46 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 19703.04 points, up 176.64 or 0.90 percent.