LONDON - London's top share index closed 1.82 percent higher, boosted by stronger energy and mining stocks, while financial shares also provided support to the market which had fallen in five of last eight sessions. The FTSE 100 ended 74.96 points higher at 4,202.13, after falling 0.8 percent on Friday to its lowest close since April 28.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares rallied, recouping some of last week's steep losses, as banks tracked advances in US financials while oil stocks were also in demand despite weak crude prices. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed up two percent at 830.19 points, after touching 805.93 earlier in the session - its lowest since late April.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 4,722.34 points, up 146.03 or 3.19 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,052.08 points, up 68.98 or 2.31 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,315.29 points, up 77.48 or 1.48 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 18,895 points, up 361.72 or 1.95 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average slid 2.55 percent to its lowest close in eight weeks, hurt by growing political uncertainty after news that embattled Prime Minister Taro Aso is set to call a general election for August 30. In active trade, the Nikkei dropped 236.95 points to 9,050.33, its lowest finish since May 18. The index has been sliding for nine days, losing 9.1 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Shares fell the most in three weeks, dropping 2.56 percent to a seven-week low as worries about likely austerity measures from Beijing, following a strong surge in bank lending in the first half, persisted. The benchmark Hang Seng Index was down 453.79 points at 17,254.63, while turnover languished at HK$52.5 billion.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Shares dropped, with losses exaggerated by unusually thin volumes, as anxiety about the prospects for the upcoming company earnings season hurt banks such as National Australia Bank. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 1.49 percent or 56.6 points to 3,737.5.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - The rand hit a seven-week low against the dollar as investors dumped high-risk assets while local stocks gained for a fifth straight session, boosted by financial shares. The All-share index closed at 22,469.77 points, up 156.36 or 0.7 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,193.69 points, down 59.39 or 2.64 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 17,951.88 points, up 116.1 or 0.65 percent.