European stock markets recorded gains for the second day in a row this evening, helped by better than expected economic figures from Germany.
In London, the FTSE closed 89 points (2%) higher at 4,389. In Paris the CAC rose 1.55% to 3,298 while in Frankfurt the Dax gained 1.3% to finish at 4,779.
In Dublin, the ISEQ gained 49 points (1.9%) to end at 2,675, with building materials group CRH climbing 8% to €20.22 and drinks group C&C jumping 10% to €1.29. But banks were lower, with Anglo Irish slumping another 22% to 43 cent and Bank of Ireland down more than 6% to €1.04.
US stock markets were mixed amid uncertainty over a rescue plan for troubled US car makers and earnings warnings from several companies. The Dow Jones dropped 107 points to 8,827, but the Nasdaq added 10 to 1,582. Earlier, Tokyo's Nikkei index added 67 points to close at 8,396.
