US stocks rose sharply today after US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank was ready to act to ease problems in the financial markets. President Bush also unveiled a package to help US home-owners hit by the sub-prime mortgage crisis. The Dow Jones jumped 152 points to 13,390 while the Nasdaq gained 28 to 2,593.
European markets also ended the week on an upbeat note. Paris closed up 1.3% and Frankfurt gained 1.6%. London's FTSE climbed 91 points to 6,303, led by mining stocks and Standard Life, which rose 3% to 296p ahead of results next week.
In Dublin, the ISEQ added 83 points to 8,401, with Kingspan surging 95 cent to 419 and DCC adding 55 to €19.40. United Drug climbed 17 to €3.72. C&C moved up six cent to €5.39 after a trading statement.
Earlier Japanese share prices closed 2.57% higher as technology stocks soared on strong earnings by US giant Dell and a depreciation of the yen after recent volatility. The Nikkei index closed up 415 points at 16,569.
