Shares in Paris hit a record close for the third successive session, driven by media and high tech stocks and the strong Nasdaq start in the US. The CAC-40 index added 31.87 at 6,545.98, but contained big movements in both directions.
Canal Plus surged more than 9 per cent ahead of today's results statement and with the stock continuing to benefit from its Internet alliance with Vivendi and Vodafone AirTouch. It added €27.20 at €310.
The FTSE Eurobloc 100 index rose 0.8 per cent to 1,505.29 and the FTSE Eurotop 100 index 0.2 per cent to 3,849.08. The FTSE Eurotop 300 index added 0.9 per cent to 1,646.66.
Frankfurt produced a surging run for business software leader SAP but very little else on a day when the broad market index ended little changed. Broker optimism sent SAP to a high of €1,043, with an upgrade in target price from €1,000 to €1,350 by Merrill Lynch inspiring most of the buying. The stock eventually ended €77 or 8.3 per cent better at €1,010.
Other leading shares did little more than rotate gently. The Xetra Dax added 15.75 at 7,975.78 to extend the recent run of all-time closing highs.
Amsterdam finished 0.29 lower at 680.22 on the AEX index with financial giant Aegon and leading retailer Ahold running into selling ahead of this weeks' results statement. Ahold, which reports today, dipped 25 cents to €23.55 while Aegon shed €2.55 or 3.7 per cent to €67.35 in spite of broad broker optimism in advance of Thursday's earnings statement.
In Milan the Mibtel index put on 364 to 34,819. Banca di Roma was suspended several times limit-up, on Friday's news that the company planned an online bank with Telecom Italia. Roma jumped 27.8 per cent to €1.56 while Telecom Italia finished 1 per cent easier at €18.85, off a high of €19.38.
Helsinki closed at a second successive record high. The Hex general index added 640.94 to 18,277.35. Mobile phone maker Nokia was up 4 per cent or €9 at a record €234.50. Telecoms operator Sonera rose €4.19 to €95.49.
