European stock markets ended a five-day losing streak, helped by hopes of an imminent rescue package for bond insurer Ambac and better than expected US service sector data.
Banks and commodity stocks were the top gainers as oil and metals prices again moved towards records. In London, the FTSE gained 86 points to 5,854, with HBOS up 5.7% to 575p, but Royal Bank of Scotland fell more than 3% to 355.5p. Paris closed up 1.7% at 4,756 and Frankfurt added 2% to 6,684.
In Dublin, the ISEQ jumped 175 points, or 2.8%, to 6,378. In late trading, insurer FBD gained 58 cent to €29.77 as its annual results came in in line with expectations. Glanbia added three to €4.95 after reporting a 34% increase in pre-tax profits. Banks were strong, with Anglo Irish and Irish Life & Permanent both climbing more than 4% to €9.58 and €10.80 respectively.
The US data kept Wall Street in positive territory, with the Dow Jones up 81 points to 12,295 and the Nasdaq 17 points ahead at 2,278.
Earlier, Tokyo's key Nikkei 225 index closed 20 points weaker at 12,972 as poorer than expected company spending data dampened investor confidence about the health of the domestic economy.
