EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares closed at a three-week high, buoyed by oil company stocks on the back of steadier crude prices, a rally in Belgacom and stable US economic figures.
Shares in Belgacom hit a record high, rising 3.6 percent to 27.46 euros as brokers such as Goldman Sachs raised their ratings on the stock, citing a strong chance of a share buyback at the dominant Belgian telecoms group next year.
Belgacom had surprised analysts with a higher first-half profit and forecast an equally robust second half.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 3,851.18 points, up 18.9 or 0.49 percent. The index gained 138.57 points since last week.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3,649.24 points, up 19.4 or 0.53 percent, 111.22 points higher on the week.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 5,463.9 points, up 31.5 or 0.58 percent, a gain of 119.7 points since last Friday.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 20,488 points, up 103 or 0.51 percent, 472 points up on the week.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian stocks rose to their highest level in almost two months, staging a 0.9 percent rally as confidence grew following a string of solid earnings results and upbeat forecasts.
Helped also by a further fall in oil prices overnight, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closed up 32.9 points at 3,558.9, rising 61.2 over the week.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African stocks closed up with foreign buyers attracted by the weaker rand, and little in company results to dent positive sentiment in global markets spilling over.
The All-share index closed at 11,163.35 points, up 146.29 or 1.33 percent, up 225.2 points from seven days ago.
The All Gold index closed at 1,985.46 points, up 9.26 or 0.47 percent, down 51.78 points from last Friday, while the Industrial index closed at 7,720.72 points, up 60.46 or 0.79 percent, up 241.65 points since August 20.