European stock markets closed higher this evening, with financial and pharmaceutical shares strong. Sentiment was lifted by strong Chinese economic growth data.
London's FTSE rose 0.5% to end at 5,825, its best showing in 22 months, with bank HSBC up 3% to 703.5p. In Paris, the CAC added 0.2% to finish at 4,066, while in Frankfurt the DAX edged up 0.2% to 6,291.
In Dublin, the ISEQ ended down 14 points (0.4%) at 3,342, with airline stocks lower after the Irish Aviation Authority closed Irish airports because of a volcanic ash cloud from an eruption in Iceland. Aer Lingus fell 2.7% to end at 73 cent, while Ryanair dipped almost 2% to €3.99. But the banks were higher again with AIB jumping almost 4% €1.61 amid reports that up to ten possible suitors are interested in its Polish subsidiary.
US markets were mixed after an unexpected rise in US jobless claims and continuing concerns about Greece's debt woes. The Dow Jones was 0.1% lower at 11,111, while the Nasdaq was up 0.2% at 2,509. Tokyo's Nikkei rose 0.6% to close at 11,234, helped by the strong Chinese figures. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained 0.2% to end at 22,158.
