LONDON - The UK's top shares ended the first half's last trading day on higher ground, clawing back from earlier losses as commodities rose and as a Federal Reserve inflation gauge boosted morale in global stocks.

The FTSE 100 ended up 36.6 points, or 0.56 percent, at 6,607.9, tracking gains in US stocks and after a choppy session in which it earlier fell as much as 0.8 percent to 6,519.6.

The FTSE gained 40.5 points this week.ROUNDUP:EUROFIRSTEUROPE - European stocks finished higher, as tame US inflation data reassured investors, helping the market reverse earlier losses and close the first half of the year on a strong note.

Shares of oil companies led the gains as crude oil prices reached $71 a barrel.

Total SA added 1.6 percent, while Royal Dutch Shell rose 1.5 percent and Statoil ASA gained 2.2 percent.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index closed 0.6 percent higher, at 1,605.33 points.

The benchmark index finished the first half of the year with a gain of 8.2 percent, versus a gain of 3 percent during the first half of 2006.ROUNDUP:EUROmarketsFRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 8,007.32 points, up 85.96 or 1.09 percent and a gain of 57.69 points on the week.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 6,054.93 points, up 48.62 or 0.81 percent, gaining 31.68 points since last weekend.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 9,209.36 points, up 70.45 or 0.77 percent, gaining 42.87 points since last Friday.

MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 32,886 points, up 177 or 0.54 percent, rising 117 points over the week.ROUNDUP:nikkei>TOKYO - The Nikkei average booked its highest close in a week, climbing 1.15 percent as exporters such as Toyota Motor gained on a dip in the yen and after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged in the key US market.

The Nikkei finished up 206.09 points at 18,138.36, dropping 50.27 points since June 22.ROUNDUP:hang sengHONG KONG - Blue chips dropped 0.75 percent and China plays fell 0.4 percent, as a tumble in mainland bourses dragged down China Life and other Chinese financial plays.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed down 165.49 points at 21,772.73, for a weekly fall of 227.18 points.ROUNDUP:asx<.5b0>SYDNEY - Shares nudged up 0.15 percent as the top miners rose on firmer metal prices, while Wesfarmers extended gains on expectations it would win the bidding for retailer Coles Group Ltd.

Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 9.3 points to 6,274.9.

The index has fallen 107.7 points since last week.ROUNDUP:south africaJOHANNESBURG - Stocks dipped as a firmer rand hit mining shares and IT outsourcing firm Business Connexion slid after a planned buy-out by Telkom fell through.

The All-share index closed at 28,337.22 points, down 65.57 or 0.23 percent, losing 757.1 points during the week.

The All Gold index closed at 2,469.84 points, down 11.96 or 0.48 percent, dropping 127.01 points in the week.

The Industrial index closed at 19,521.76 points, up 42.24 or 0.22 percent, worse off by 184.7 points than last week.