Closing stock market indices outside the U.S.

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Friday September 03, 2010 05:46:22 AM GMT

LONDON, Sep 3 (Reuters) - Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Friday

LONDON - Britain's leading share index hit a near four-month closing high after a better-than-expected U.S. jobs report eased concerns of the world's largest economy slipping back to another recession. However, a weaker August reading of the U.S. services activity index limited the gains on the FTSE 100, which closed 57.11 points or 1.06 percent higher at 5,428.15, up for the sixth straight session. Over the week the index added 226.59 points.

EUROPE - European shares hit a three-week closing high and posted their biggest weekly gain in about eight weeks as investors grabbed equities after figures showed that U.S. employment declined far less than expected in August. However caution prevailed as an industry report said the U.S. non-manufacturing sector grew in August for an eighth straight month but at a slower pace than July and at a rate that was below expectations. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares ended 0.8 percent firmer at 1,063.70 points -- the highest close since early August -- after rising to a high of 1,070.33 earlier in the session. The index climbed 3.6 percent during the week, its best weekly performance since early July.

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 6,134.62 points, up 50.77 or 0.83 percent and adding 183.45 points on the week.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,672.2 points, up 40.77 or 1.12 percent, climbing 164.76 points since last weekend.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,400.71 points, up 67.06 or 1.06 percent, a gain of 217.57 points since last Friday.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 21,181.61 points, up 207.48 or 0.99 percent on the day and 806 points higher over the week.

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.57 percent for a third day of gains as more encouraging data reassured investors about the health of the global economic recovery and sparked short-covering. The benchmark Nikkei added 51.29 points to 9,114.13 and it rose 1.4 percent, or 123.07 points, on the week, its biggest weekly gain in nearly two months.

HONG KONG - Shares closed slightly higher ahead of key jobs data from the United States, although a weak mainland market and key technical resistance limited gains. The Hang Seng Index ended up 0.49 percent or 102.58 at 20,971.5, testing a key resistance level at its 200-day moving average. Since last Friday the index added 374.15 points.

SYDNEY - Stocks inched 0.19 percent higher and registered their first weekly rise in three weeks as firm U.S. and Chinese manufacturing data and strong Australian growth figures calmed investor nerves. The S&P/ASX200 index ended at its highest in four weeks. It rose 8.5 points to 4,541.2. It ended the week 3.9 percent, or 171.1 points higher, its biggest weekly gain in a year.

JOHANNESBURG - The rand hit a fresh 2 1/2 year high against the dollar, gaining momentum to challenge the key 7.15 technical level, and local stocks also gained. The All-share index closed at 27,942.89 points, up 101.91 or 0.37 percent, climbing 1,203.98 points over the week. The All Gold index closed at 2,468.81 points, down 9.77 or 0.39 percent, a small rise of 14.96 points on the week. The Industrial index closed at 23,393.37 points, up 118.47 or 0.51 percent, rising 1,083.41 points since last Friday's close.

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