LONDON - The FTSE 100 of Britain's leading shares ended flat as Rio Tinto topped the gainers on bid talk but nerves ahead of rate decisions in the United States and Europe left the market subdued.

The FTSE 100 ended 0.8 points, or 0.01 percent lower at 6,549.6, with many traders jittery ahead of the US Federal.ROUNDUP:EUROFIRSTEUROPE - European shares rose ahead of a key US interest rate decision, lifted by merger and acquisition talk, notably involving miner Rio Tinto, and strong earnings from bank BNP Paribas.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index ended with a gain of 0.21 percent at 1,585.01 points, having earlier touched a high of 1,590.81.ROUNDUP:EUROmarketsFRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 7,475.99 points, up 33.79 or 0.45 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 6,051.63 points, up 17.38 or 0.29 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 9,427.69 points, up 50.61 or 0.54 percent.

MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 33,944 points, up 171 or 0.51 percent.ROUNDUP:nikkeiTOKYO - The Nikkei average gained 0.52 percent to its highest close since a global equity sell-off in February, as Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha jumped following an upbeat earnings report, prompting investors to buy shares in other shipping firms.

The Nikkei ended up 91.28 points at 17,748.12, its highest close since February 27.ROUNDUP:hang sengHONG KONG - Stocks advanced, helped by gains in Shanghai, with China Mobile leading a rebound, while an oil deal with the parent of CITIC Resources, pushed the shares to a 9-[1/2]-year high.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index ended at 20,844.78, up 138.43 points or 0.67 percent.ROUNDUP:asxSYDNEY - Shares rose 0.58 percent to a fresh all-time closing high as a rumour of a pending $100-plus billion take-over bid for Rio Tinto by larger rival BHP Billiton sent shares in both firms to record highs.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index went up 36.6 points to a new record closing high of 6,341.0.ROUNDUP:south africaJOHANNESBURG - The mining sector led a recovery of stocks as investors sought bargains amid talk that index heavyweight BHP Billiton could bid for rival Rio Tinto.

The All-share index closed at 28,354.41 points, up 192.63 or 0.68 percent.

The All Gold index closed at 2,768.17 points, up 0.93 or 0.03 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 19,694.43 points, down 0.14.