LONDON - A rally by banks, fuelled by demand in European bond auctions on easing debt concerns, helped Britain's top share index higher, with BSkyB up after an approach by News Corp. The FTSE 100 closed up 15.69 points or 0.3 percent at 5,217.82, the highest closing level since May 15, and taking its winning streak into a fifth straight session.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares rose for a fifth straight session, as strong demand for Irish, Belgian and Spanish government debt helped to soothe worries about the euro zone's fiscal health. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares rose 0.7 percent to 1,037.68 points, the highest close since May 13.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 6,175.05 points, up 50.05 or 0.82 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,661.51 points, up 35.47 or 0.98 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,484.73 points, up 12.61 or 0.19 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 21,133.02 points, up 365.05 or 1.76 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average edged up 0.08 percent to stall near a key resistance level, buoyed as the impact of Greece's downgrade to junk status ebbed, with securities firms also providing a boost. The Nikkei inched up 8.04 points to 9,887.89 after briefly rising as far as 9,911.73, having last traded above its 25-day moving average in late April.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Stocks ended the day little changed on another low volume day as investors booked profits after two successive gaining sessions and ahead of a market holiday. The Hang Seng ended up 10.24 points at 20,062.15.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Shares drifted either side of unchanged, ending almost dead flat with defensive sectors benefiting as investors remained jittery after a debt downgrade for Greece.

The index ended 0.41 points lower at 4,505.0, on volume about two-thirds of average.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - The rand advanced against the dollar and local stocks also climbed, reflecting a positive mood in global markets. Local trading volumes have been thin as business has slowed during the soccer World Cup tournament that ends on July 11.

The All-share index closed at 27,682.72 points, up 236.63 or 0.86 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,532.25 points, up 15.6 or 0.62 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 22,140.91 points, up 171.29 or 0.78 percent.