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European indexes forge ahead: sales abroad look bright

European stock markets forged ahead Friday on welcome news from the US that its economic recovery was finally producing strong jobs growth.

The British FTSE 100 index gained 1.24 percent to 4,465.6 points, the German DAX 30 rose 2.11 percent to 4,007.60 points and the French CAC 40 climbed 1.91 percent to 3,739.91 points.

The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index of leading eurozone shares advanced 2.32 percent to 2,885.08 points.

The euro stood at US$1.2127.

In Paris export-oriented firms were among those posting strong gains as the euro fell against the US dollar, brightening hopes for increased sales abroad.

Aerospace group EADS soared 3.41 percent to 18.50 euros and the electronics company Thomson gained 3.10 percent to 15.94 euros.

The price of shares in troubled French computer group Bull surged by 11.9 percent to 0.94 euros when trading in the stock was resumed following the publication of results and the death of its chairman.

The death of Pierre Bonelli was announced on Thursday. Trading in the stock had been suspended for a day early on Wednesday before publication of the results.

Bull reported net 2003 earnings of 4.1 million euros (US$5.1 million) after a loss in 2002 of 548 million euros.

Reuters shares gained 2.25 percent to 409 pence in London despite the company saying it saw its share of the global financial information market decline by two percentage points to 37 percent in terms of revenue last year.

Reuters also reported a unspecified gain in the "premium" market to 28 percent by revenue.

In Frankfurt, Deutsche Bank shares added 2.25 percent to 70.74 euros on a broker upgrade from Smith Barney, while HypoVerinsbank gained 2.62 percent to 16.85 euros.

Lloyds TSB was up 1.5 percent to £4.2225 in London.

In Amsterdam, the AEX index gained 2.35 percent to 350.52, the Swiss SMI was up 1.19 percent at 5,784.6, in Milan the Mib 30 advanced 1.66 percent to 28,023, in Madrid the Ibex-35 closed 1.91 percent higher at 8,252.3 and in Brussels the Bel-20 finished the day with a gain of 1.18 percent at 2,441.08.
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