LONDON - Britain's top share index rose 0.9 percent, lifted by telecoms, and ended two straight weeks of losses, though trading was thin as investors remained wary of the United States slipping back into recession. Defensive stocks were in demand, helping the FTSE 100 to close 45.72 points, or 0.89 percent, higher at 5,201.56 in a choppy session.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European stocks rose, led by telecoms and other defensive sectors, but it was not enough to stop an overall loss for the week as investors reacted to data that cast further doubt on the strength of the economic recovery. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares rose 0.6 percent to close at 1,026.25 points, adding to a 0.9 percent rise on Thursday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,951.17 points, up 38.59 or 0.65 percent and dumping 53.99 on the week.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,507.44 points, up 32.41 or 0.93 percent, shedding 18.68 points since last weekend.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,183.14 points, up 51.38 or 0.84 percent, a slight loss of 2.68 points since last Friday.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 20,375.61 points, up 102.11 or 0.5 percent, dropping 23 points over the week.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average reversed course in late trade to climb more than one percent at one point, buoyed after investors unloaded superlong Japanese debt to buy stocks as well as by hopes for Japanese moves to rein in the strong yen. The benchmark Nikkei finished 0.95 percent or 84.58 points higher at 8,991.06 in moderate trade.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Stocks ended weaker, with the Hang Seng Index hitting a one-month closing low as China Life Insurance extended its slide after a disappointing earnings outlook prompted a sell-off. The Hang Seng Index fell 0.07 percent or 14.71 points to 20,597.35, hovering near a support level at the 61.8 percent retracement of its 10.2 percent rally from July 6 to August 9.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

MELBOURNE - Stocks recovered morning losses to finish 0.3 percent higher, helped by short-covering in the banks, as investors eyed the end of reporting season. The S&P/ASX 200 index ended up 14.1 points to 4,370.1. During the week the index lost 60.8 points.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - Stocks edged down 0.7 percent, with shares of miners such as Impala Platinum extending losses on concerns about the outlook for the global economy and strike threats. The All-share index closed at 26,738.91 points, down 134.17 or 0.5 percent, lower on the week by 250.72.