LONDON - Britain's leading shares rose 0.5 percent, led by firmer banks and commodity issues after falls in the previous session, while British Airways climbed on increased hopes for a global alliance. The FTSE 100 closed at 5,167.47 points, up 25.02 or 0.49 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares closed higher, supported by gains in banks and miners while defensive food producers fell, but a lack of clarity over euro zone support for Greece was seen capping further gains for equities.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares provisionally closed 0.4 percent higher at 991.76 points, after falling 0.3 percent on Friday.

Banks were among the top gainers. HSBC, Societe Generale, UBS and Deutsche Bank were up 0.2 to 2.6 percent. Barclays rose five percent ahead of full-year results on Tuesday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,511.1 points, up 10.71 or 0.19 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,609.22 points, up 10.15 or 0.28 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,440.76 points, up 24.56 or 0.38 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 21,632.05 points, up 83.02 or 0.39 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average fell 0.8 percent, with worries about global growth after China's lifting of banks' reserve requirements outweighing better-than-expected Japanese gross domestic product data. The Nikkei share average fell 78.89 points to 10,013.3.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong markets were closed yesterday for the second day of the Lunar New Year. On Friday the Hang Seng Index ended down 22 points at 20,268.69.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian stocks fell 0.3 percent as big banks gave up early gains on worries about higher funding costs due to sovereign debt woes offshore, and companies that came out with subdued outlooks were punished. The S&P/ASX 200 index gave up 16.6 points to close at 4,545.35.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's stocks surged ahead, snapping two days of losses as investors chased bargains after recent losses, but the rand dipped against the dollar in quiet trade with Wall Street closed for a public holiday. The All-share index closed at 26,701.36 points, up 438.95 or 1.67 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,286.82 points, up 33.19 or 1.47 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 21,022.19 points, up 207.12 or one percent.