LONDON - Britain's leading share index ended 0.4 percent higher, hitting a fresh 16-month closing high, as banks and commodity stocks rose, but gains were capped by a fall in drugmakers on concerns over vaccine sales. The FTSE 100 closed at 5,522.5 points, up 22.16 or 0.4 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares closed lower, retreating from a 15-month high, with drugmakers falling after France cancelled flu shot orders overshadowing gains in banks on talk that Barclays may lift its outlook.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed down 0.03 percent at 1,060.42 points in choppy trade, having been as low as 1,055.69 and up as much as 1,063.05.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 6,031.86 points, down 16.44 or 0.27 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 4,012.91 points, down 1.06 or 0.03 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,579.26 points, down 52.18 or 0.79 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,997.41 points, up 39.93 or 0.17 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average hit a 15-month closing high after solid US manufacturing data boosted investor confidence in the economy, lifting some blue-chip shares such as Canon Inc. The Nikkei inched up 0.25 percent or 27.04 points to 10,681.83, its highest close since October 3 2008, after rising as high as 10,791.04 at one stage. It remained well above its 25-day moving average of around 10,100.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Stock markets ended higher, fuelled by a rally in energy and metals plays amid firmer commodities prices, while banks rebounded on optimism that global recovery would drive profit. The benchmark Hang Seng Index ended up 2.09 percent, its biggest percentage gain in five weeks, or 456.3 points at 22,279.58.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Stocks rose 0.98 percent to their highest close since the Lehman collapse in 2008, on fresh hopes of a global economic recovery after positive manufacturing reports from the United States, China and India. The S&P/ASX 200 index closed up 48 points at 4,924.3, reaching its highest close since September 2008.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's rand rallied to a near three-month high against the dollar on improved risk appetite before giving up its gains as importers took the opportunity to buy cheaper dollars. The All-share index closed at 27,998.87 points, up 103.68 or 0.37 percent.