Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday. LONDON - Britain's top shares rose for the fourth straight day to their highest level this month as Wall Street extended its end of year rally and this week's retreat by oil prices soothed concern about the impact of high costs on British Airways and other big fuel users. The FTSE 100 share index closed up 10.3 points or 0.22 percent at 4,787.7 points, after touching 4,789, its highest level since late-November and only 34 points shy of this year's peak. EUROPE - European share markets meandered to a steady close as dealers squared their books on the last full trading day before Christmas, while a fresh record high in the euro capped sentiment after recent equity gains. Dutch retailer Ahold was a standout, adding 2.7 percent to 5.71 euros after agreeing to sell two U.S. food retail chains for $660 million. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of pan-European blue chips closed unchanged at 1,041.3 points, having traded in a very narrow, 4-point range throughout the day. FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 4,251.62 points, up 10.34 or 0.24 percent. --More 2154 Local Time 1854 GMT
