LONDON - Stake-building in Sainsbury and buoyant miners pushed Britain's benchmark share index near 7-year highs as tame US inflation soothed fears of higher interest rates and underpinned global stocks.

The FTSE 100 closed at 6732.4 points, up 82.5 or 1.24 percent, its highest closing level in nearly seven years.

The FTSE gained 227.30 points or about 3.8 percent this week as US bond yields retreated from five-year highs and tame US inflation data soothed fears of higher rates in the world's largest economy.ROUNDUP:EUROFIRSTEUROPE - European shares rose sharply, helped by a tame reading on US core inflation that eased concerns over potential Federal Reserve rate increases and sent bond yields lower.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European companies ended up 1.2 percent at 1625.87, taking its gain in the week to 3.6 percent and wiping out its losses of the previous week.

The index is now up 9.5 percent this year.ROUNDUP:EUROmarketsFRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 8030.64 points, up 181.48 or 2.31 percent on the day, and 440.14 points ahead on the week.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 6105.28 points, up 58.05 or 0.96 percent, gaining 221.99 since last weekend.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 9395.75 points, up 103.45 or 1.11 percent, adding 245.06 since last Friday.

MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 33599 points, up 345 or 1.04 percent, rising 1015 points over the week.ROUNDUP:nikkeiTOKYO - The Nikkei average rose 0.72 percent to close at its highest level in a week as air conditioner maker Daikin Industries rose on expectations of a hot summer this year, while a softer yen helped exporters such as Honda Motors.

The Nikkei gained 129.20 points to close at 17,971.49, adding 192.4 points since June 8.ROUNDUP:hang sengHONG KONG - Hong Kong-listed China plays hit their second straight record and logged their best weekly gain since December, as the recently underplayed mainland financials reclaimed the spotlight and Aluminium Corp of China (Chalco) led a rally in resource stocks.

The Hang Seng Index closed up 149.79 points, or 0.72 percent, at 21,017.05, rising 507.9 points over the week.ROUNDUP:asxSYDNEY - Australian shares rose 0.5 percent, buoyed by Wall Street's strong close, with gains in oil and metal prices boosting Rio Tinto and Woodside Petroleum.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 32.6 points to close at 6,293.8, up 62.1 points from a week ago.ROUNDUP:south africaJOHANNESBURG - South African shares broke into fresh record territory, lifted by a rally in mining stocks like Lonmin and gains in the United States.

The All-Share Index gained 1.12 percent to 29,313.78 points, a new record after adding 1144.55 during the week. The All Gold index closed at 2614.24 points, up 27.12 or 1.05 percent, gathering 33.12 points in the week. The Industrial index closed at 19792.35 points, up 105.56.