AFX European summary

AFX European summary - late

	Published : Mon, 15 Jan 2007 23:12 By : Agencies Print this Story

LONDON (AFX) - European markets at close

LONDON (AFX) - Leading shares closed firmer but below the early morning peak in thin trade today, lacking any lead from Wall Street, with Smiths Group the top performer, up over 11 pct after a major disposal and capital return plans, dealers said.

At the close, the FTSE 100 index was 24.5 points firmer at 6,263.5, below the session high of 6,279.7.

FRANKFURT (AFX) - Share prices closed higher, with Deutsche Boerse and TUI leading the blue chips higher.

At the close, the DAX 30 index was 26.57 points or 0.40 pct higher at 6,731.74.

The MDAX climbed 72.52 points or 0.76 pct to 9,596.26, while the TecDAX was up 15.12 points or 1.96 pct at 786.48.

The DAX futures contract was up 10.50 points or 0.16 pct at 6,773.00, while bund futures were down 0.10 points or 0.09 pct at 115.29.

PARIS (AFX) - Share prices closed higher for the third session in a row as investors took their cue from gains seen on Wall Street last Friday, with EADS and Arcelor Mittal setting the pace, though activity was light because of the closure of US markets for a public holiday, dealers said.

The CAC-40 index finished up 13.46 points at 5,631.08, the highest closing since May 2001, on volume of 4.1 bln euro.

AMSTERDAM (AFX) - Shares in Amsterdam closed near their highs, led by heavyweight oil stocks, with trade thin because of Wall Street's closure for a public holiday, dealers said.

The AEX closed up 2.54 points or 0.0.51 pct at 505.38, after opening at 504.88 and reaching a high of 506.11.

MILAN (AFX) - Share prices ended slightly higher, with Bulgari leading gains and the oil sector supported by a new rise in crude prices, dealers said.

The Mibtel index closed up 0.55 pct to 32,496 while the S&P/Mib gained 0.47 pct at 42,307.

MADRID (AFX) - Share prices closed at a record high, with trade thin because of Wall Street's closure and limited local newsflow, while constructors led the gains, dealers said.

The IBEX-35 index closed 48.5 points higher at 14,416.7, after trading in a range of 14,411-14,455 on volume of 4.5 bln eur.

STOCKHOLM (AFX) - Stockholm shares closed up on widespread bargain-hunting, with Tradedoubler and Pergo leading the market higher after both received takeover bids, dealers said.

The OMX Stockholm index closed up 1.36 pct at 382.98, while the OMX Stockholm 30 index gained 1.18 pct to close at 1,173.11.

ZURICH (AFX) - Share prices closed up after reaching a record high in afternoon trade, with gains in selected heavyweights spurring buying interest, dealers said.

The Swiss Market Index closed 68.84 points higher at 9,101.65, off a record of 9,112.86, and the Swiss Performance Index closed up 58.24 points at 7,188.17.

BRUSSELS (AFX) - Shares closed slightly higher after flat trade in the morning as Belgian blue chips Barco and Dexia rose, though volumes were low, traders said.

The Bel 20 closed up 8.22 points or 0.18 pct at 4,494.11.

AFX European summary - late