LONDON - UK markets were closed yesterday for the August Bank holiday. Markets will reopen today. On Friday, the FTSE 100 closed 45.72 points, or 0.89 percent, higher at 5,201.56.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares ended slightly lower as concerns about the global economic recovery weighed on investor sentiment, outweighing support from merger and acquisition news. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares closed down 0.1 percent at 1,025.48 points. Trading was thin with the British markets closed for a holiday. Volumes on the index were at just 50.1 percent of its 90-day average.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,912.41 points, down 38.76 or 0.65 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,487.01 points, down 20.43 or 0.58 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,205.24 points, up 22.1 or 0.36 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 20,281.86 points, down 93.75 or 0.46 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - The Nikkei average pared gains to close near its day's lows after rising more than three percent at one point, with investors disappointed by a Bank of Japan decision that contained no surprises and was seen as lacklustre at best. In thin trade, the Nikkei ended up 1.76 percent or 158.2 points to 9,149.26.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Stocks rose, with the Hang Seng Index posting its biggest single-day percentage gain in four weeks as Chinese banks rebounded, tracking stronger overseas and mainland markets. The index ended up 0.68 percent or 139.87 points at 20,737.22, ending six straight sessions of losses. However, analysts see downside pressure as earnings excitement fades.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

MELBOURNE - Shares rose 1.89 percent to a 10-day high as top banks recouped recent losses to close more than two percent higher and mining stocks shone on strong copper and gold prices. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 82.6 points to 4,452.7, the highest since August 20.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's resource-heavy stock market rose in thin trade on investors' hopes that comments by US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke last week would boost the global economy. The All-share index closed at 27,142 points, up 403.09 or 1.51 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,466.77 points, up 12.92 or 0.53 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 22,608.3 points, up 298.34 or 1.34 percent.