LONDON - Britain's leading share index took on 0.7 percent yesterday, as heavyweight mining issues rallied with firmer metal prices, while banks moved higher awaiting further earnings news from US peers.

At the close, the FTSE 100 index was 39.02 points higher at 5,494.39.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - A rally in mining and oil shares on the back of firmer commodity prices helped European equities to close higher, with investors waiting for a slew of heavyweight earnings results this week for near-term direction.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares finished 0.79 percent higher at 1,060.53 points. The index, which rose 26 percent last year, has jumped 64 percent since hitting a record low in March 2009.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,918.55 points, up 42.58 or 0.72 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,977.46 points, up 23.08 or 0.58 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,603.78 points, up 27.76 or 0.42 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,953.48 points, up 51.05 or 0.21 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average fell 1.2 percent, hit by broad selling after JPMorgan Chase reported hefty fourth-quarter loan losses, raising concern that the market's recent rally may be overdone.

The Nikkei fell 127.02 points to 10,855.08 after rising 0.7 percent on Friday to its highest finish since October 2008.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares fell to a near three-week low, tracking losses on Wall Street and losing ground for a fifth consecutive session as investors braced for more US bank earnings.

The Hang Seng Index ended down 194.15 points at 21,460.01.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian stocks closed 0.2 firmer, as banks gained on hopes of solid trading results and talk of further consolidation in wealth management, offsetting losses by resources shares.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 11.47 points to 4,911.1, reversing early losses after trading as low as 4,865.6.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's bourse ended higher, in line with global stocks and lifted with miners as metal prices jumped, while the rand edged firmer on solid risk appetite and the firm platinum price.

The All-share index gained 0.61 percent to 28,099.7 points.

The All Gold index closed at 2,394.96 points, up 4.57 or 0.19 percent, the Industrial index closed at 21,393.66 points, up 84.96 or 0.4 percent on the day.