LONDON - Britain's top share index ended 0.9 percent higher, buoyed by the miners on firmer metals prices and optimism over demand prospects. The FTSE 100 closed 45.74 points higher at 5,154.64, after shedding 0.6 percent on Wednesday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares closed higher, with miners extending recent gains as gold prices hit new highs, and after the European Central Bank kept its key interest rate at one percent. US aluminium producer Alcoa also helped by kicking off third-quarter earnings season in positive fashion. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares rose 1.3 percent to 1,001.19 points, the highest close since September 29. The European benchmark is up more than 55 percent from a record low in early March, as investors have become more confident on the prospects of economic recovery.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,716.54 points, up 75.79 or 1.34 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,806.81 points, up 50.4 or 1.34 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,305.8 points, up 45.65 or 0.73 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 24,141.04 points, up 243.43 or 1.02 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.34 percent, with shares of shipping firms surging as a key freight index hit a seven-week high on hopes of fresh Chinese demand while digital camera maker Nikon Corp. climbed on a brokerage upgrade. The Nikkei rose 32.87 points to 9,832.47, pulling further away from an 11-week intraday low of 9,628.67 hit on Tuesday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Stocks closed up 1.18 percent, its fourth day of gains, as HSBC rose 1.83 percent after it resumed talks with Royal Bank of Scotland over the purchase of RBS units in Asia. The Hang Seng Index rose 251.31 points to 21,492.90, the highest since September 23.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Shares jumped 1.55 percent to their highest close in a year, powered by the banks, as surprisingly strong jobs data reinforced confidence in the nation's economic recovery. The S&P/ASX 200 index gained 72.9 points to end at 4,768.6, its highest close since October 1, 2008.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - The rand firmed against a wobbly dollar while stocks rose for a fourth straight day on a positive global economic outlook and stronger resource shares.

The All-share index closed at 25,528.4 points, up 229.43 or 0.91 percent.