1/2 yr highs in thin trade London, Dec. 24, SPA -- European shares closed at 2-1/2 year highs on Friday , led by gains in oil stocks such as BP. Standout gainers included troubled British contracting firm Jarvis, up 21 percent after it staved off financial collpase when it sold its 33 percent stake in London's underground rail network to Spain's Ferrovial. By 1330 GMT, the FTSEurofirst index of pan-European blue chips was unofficially closed at 1,042.19 points, just 0.05 percent up on the day, but at closing levels last seen in July 2002. "This is the time of the year when markets, if they do tend to move, then go up. Valuations for most markets, certainly for the UK and Europe, are still very attractive," said Mike Lenhoff, chief strategist at wealth manager Brewin Dolphin Securities. A holiday in many stock markets hit volumes, amid little corporate news flow. London markets closed at 1230 GMT while Euronext exchanges in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Lisbon shut at 1300 GMT. Other markets were closed. The FTSE 100 index in London rose 0.22 percent and the Paris CAC-40 edged up 0.08 percent. --More 0003 Local Time 2103 GMT
