European stock markets rallied today after six days of declines, as banks and mining stocks rose, while a bid from Belgian brewer InBev for US rival Anheuser-Busch lifted food and beverage stocks.
In Paris the CAC gained 0.2% to end at 4,672.30 while in Frankfurt the Dax rose almost 1% to 6,715. London's FTSE added 67 points (1.2%) to close at 5,791, with HBOS climbing almost 10% to 283p and Royal Bank of Scotland up 8% to 229p. But Carphone Warehouse slumped 11% to £2 after saying it was cautious about the year ahead due to falling broadband demand.
In Dublin, the ISEQ gained 51 points to 5,578, with Bank of Ireland winning back some of its recent losses, closing up 38 cent to €6.75. But Independent dropped 17 cent to €1.91 in late trading after its weak outlook for the year ahead issued yesterday and TVC Holdings fell six to 92 cent after reporting a loss in the year to the end of March.
A report showing stronger than expected US retail sales growth in May helped lift Wall Street, with the Dow Jones gaining 156 points to 12,340 and the Nasdaq adding 30 to 2,424. Asian stocks were down sharply this morning after a tumble on Wall Street on Wednesday . Tokyo's key Nikkei 225 index ended 295 points weaker at 13,887 - down 2%.
