LONDON - Britain's leading share index rose 0.82 percent, gaining for the third day in a row and hitting its highest closing level in more than five weeks, led higher by banks and commodity stocks. The FTSE 100 closed 43.72 points higher at 5,372.38 in thin trade.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares hit a near 15-month closing peak, but gains were capped after US data showed sales of newly built single-family homes unexpectedly fell to their lowest level in seven months. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares ended 0.2 percent higher at 1,037.34 points, the highest close since October 3 last year, after ranging between 1,034.25 and 1,041.21 points in thin pre-Christmas trading.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,957.44 points, up 11.75 or 0.2 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,910.75 points, up 12.37 or 0.32 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,579.98 points, down 2.92 or 0.04 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,86.15 points, up 118.41 or 0.51 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japanese markets were closed today for the Emperor's birthday. They will reopen tomorrow. On Tuesday, in moderate trade, the Nikkei gained 194.56 points to 10,378.03, its highest finish since September 24.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Shares gained for second straight session led by property plays on hopes for strong response to a government land auction early next week. The benchmark Hang Seng Index ended up 1.12 percent or 236.7 points at 21,328.74 in subdued trade with investors staying away on concern over capital outflows and further measures from the Chinese authorities to curb assets bubbles.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Stocks rose 0.75 percent to a three-week closing high, driven up banks, while Gloucester Coal Ltd. surged after a takeover offer from Macarthur Coal Ltd. The S&P/ASX 200 index added 35 points to 4,739.3, its highest close since December 3. The gains come on top of a 69.11 point rise on Tuesday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - The rand firmed over one percent against the dollar, tracking the euro and also boosted by exporter orders in a thin market while the resource-heavy bourse slightly came off a near 17-month high. The All-share index closed at 27,07.92 points, down 14.01 or 0.05 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,434.49 points, down 12.3 or 0.5 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 21,599.12 points, up 28.1 or 0.13 percent.