LONDON - Britain's top share index closed 0.57 percent higher, as gains in commodities outpaced falls in banks, which remained mired in uncertainty over euro zone's plans to deal with Greece's debt problems. The FTSE 100 ended up 29.49 points at 5,161.48, its fourth consecutive day of gains, albeit in choppy trade and drifting back from an early session peak of 5,201.82, as investors awaited the fine print of the Greece bailout plans.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares ended higher as stronger commodity stocks outpaced a sharp decline in banks, which slipped following uncertainties over the shape of a deal to rescue debt-laden Greece. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares rose for a fourth straight session to close 0.3 percent higher at 990.51 points after a choppy session that saw the index hovering in a broad range of 980.16 to 997.26.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,503.93 points, down 32.44 or 0.59 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,616.75 points, down 18.86 or 0.52 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,403.42 points, up 69.43 or 1.1 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 21,591.67 points, down 154.45 or 0.71 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japanese markets were closed today for a national holiday, National Foundation Day. On Wednesday the Nikkei added 0.31 percent or 31.09 points to 9,963.99.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Shares ended 1.85 percent higher for a third straight session of gains as investors' risk appetite increased, underpinned by a firmer China market on easing worries over a potential rise in benchmark deposit and lending rates. The Hang Seng Index ended up 368.47 points at 20,290.69, its highest close in a week.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Stocks rose 0.91 percent, to their highest close in a week, on strong local jobs data that offset a weak results from phone company Telstra and global concerns about U.S. monetary policy. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 40.9 points to 4,554.3, its highest close since February 5. The index gained 0.2 percent on Wednesday.

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JOHANNESBURG - Shares ended largely flat, dragged lower by mining stocks hit by a sell-off due to lack of details on a European deal to aid debt-ridden Greece. The All-share index closed at 26,350.6 points, down 8.57 or 0.03 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,225.85 points, down 1.94 or 0.09 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 20,893.66 points, up 122.49 or 0.59 percent.