EUROPE SOTCK EXCHANGE: European share indexes closed at fresh 2-1/2 year highs with utilities and miners leading the way on hopes of strong earnings growth, but drugmaker Roche sank after disappointing results.
Italy's largest utility Enel was among the top gainers after posting a 12 percent rise in 2004 core profits and forecasting further profit growth this year. Enel shares closed up 2.3 percent at 7.43 euros, its highest since August 2001.
FRANKFURT SOTCK EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 4296.31 points, up 16.34 or 0.38 percent.
PARIS SOTCK EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3951.72 points, up 12.54 or 0.38 percent.
ZURICH SOTCK EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 5795.1 points, down 2.8 or 0.05 percent.
MILAN SOTCK EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 24295 points, up 58 or 0.24 percent.
SYDNEY SOTCK EXCHANGE: Australian stocks advanced to a third straight record closing high as take-over theorists joined earnings bulls, lifting most sectors into positive territory. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index ended up 17.7 points or 0.4 percent to 4,145.3.
JOHANNESBURG SOTCK EXCHANGE: South African stocks hesitated after a strong rally as investors reshuffled their portfolios, leaning towards rand-sensitive exporters such as mining giant Anglo American.
The All-share index closed at 12957.71, up 0.27 points, the Gold index closed at 1578.26, up 2.24 points or 0.14 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 9585.78, down 109.02 points or 1.12 percent.