LONDON - Strength in commodity stocks and banks drove Britain's leading share index to a 16-month closing high, the first session of 2010, outweighing falls from real estate firms and life insurers. The FTSE 100 closed at 5,500.34 points, up 87.46 or 1.62 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares rose to a 15-month high in a broad rally, the first trading day of 2010, helped by upbeat economic data and with banks among the major gainers.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares rose 1.4 percent to end at 1,060.73 points, the highest closing level since early October 2008.

The heavyweight banking sector added most to the index.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 6,048.3 points, up 90.87 or 1.53 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 4,013.97 points, up 77.64 or 1.97 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,631.44 points, up 85.53 or 1.31 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,957.48 points, up 304.62 or 1.29 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average hit a 15-month closing high, its first trading day of the year, with a weaker yen lifting exporters such as Kyocera Corp. after US jobless claims data strengthened hopes for a steady economic recovery. In thin trade after the New Year's holiday, the Nikkei rose 1.03 percent or 108.35 points to 10,654.79, its highest close since October 3, 2008.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Shares ended lower on the first trading day of 2010, with the heavily weighted bank and property sectors under pressure from worries over policy changes in Beijing. ICBC fell 1.09 percent, while China Construction Bank lost 1.2 percent. The benchmark Hang Seng Index slipped 0.23 percent or 49.22 points to end at 21,823.28.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Shares ended the first day of the new year slightly higher, with defensive stocks like retailer Woolworths and telecoms firm Telstra pushing the market higher. The S&P/ASX 200 index picked up 0.12 percent or 5.7 points to close at 4,876.3, following last year's 31 percent gain.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's rand strengthened against the dollar, largely tracking trading partner currency the euro, while stocks ended their first trading session in 2010 stronger, led by platinum miners. The All-share index closed at 27,895.19 points, up 228.74 or 0.83 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,427.83 points, up 17.51 or 0.73 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 21,608.17 points, down 9.04 or 0.04 percent.