Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Friday. LONDON - Britain's top share index hit a 10-month closing high after U.S. employers shed far fewer jobs than expected, driving fresh optimism that the economy may be on the path to recovery. The FTSE 100 closed up 0.9 percent, or 41.03 points, at 4,731.56, rising 123.20 points since last weekend. EUROPE - European shares closed higher, reversing earlier losses, after unemployment in the United States rose less than expected in July. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares rose 1.2 percent to a close of 950.38 points, its highest close since Nov. 5. Over the week, the index rose 2.3 percent, its fourth week of gains. FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5458.96 points, up 88.98 or 1.66 percent on the day and rising 126.82 points on the week. PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3521.14 points, up 43.31 or 1.25 percent, adding 94.87 over the week. ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6026.4 points, up 58.32 or 0.98 percent, winning 75.71 points since Monday. MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 21878.26 points, up 243.57 or 1.13 percent, adding 731.81 points in the week. TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average hit its highest close in 10 months, helped by companies such as Toray Industries which had surprisingly good earnings reports. In light trade, the Nikkei inched up 0.2 percent to 10,412.09, its highest close since Oct. 6. It posted a 0.5 percent, or 55.26 point, gain on the week. HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares took a cue from the sharp slide on the Shanghai market to fall as worries built-up that Chinese banks will cut back on lending, choking the liquidity that has fuelled the stellar rally on the mainland bourses. The Hang Seng Index closed down 2.5 percent or 523.87 points at 20,375.37. The gauge fell one percent or 197.96 points on the week, snapping a three-week winning streak. SYDNEY - Australian stocks fell 0.6 percent as investors trod cautiously ahead of a stream of earnings reports in Australia and key U.S. jobs data that will give a steer on the health of the global economy. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 26.9 points to 4,299.4. The gain for the week was 55.4 points or 1.3 percent and the rise in the past four weeks is around 13 percent. JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's rand regained some of its poise against the dollar after touching 3-week lows partly on concerns about wage strikes, while the bourse gained for the 7th straight day, boosted by platinum and banking stocks. U.S. jobs data cheered the JSE securitie's exchange, and the All-share index rose 0.1 percent to 25,071.01 points, gaining an impressive 812.50 points over the week. The All Gold index closed at 2418.75 points, down 47.11 or 1.91 percent on the day but climbing 114.49 points in the week. The Industrial index closed at 19509.31 points, up 68.52 or 0.35 percent, and better off than last weekend by 475.92 points.
