Friday 18th June

European shares finished the day up one percent trimming the losses over the week.

And the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index is now one third higher than its lifetime low hit on the ninth of March.

Oil rose for the third consecutive day on a slightly sunnier outlook for the global economy and as rebel attacks hit output from Nigeria. Metals prices were also higher. Energy and mining companies benefited from that.

Banks and insurers were also strong gainers.

In addition investors stuck with so called defensive stocks including food producer Nestle and drug maker AstraZeneca.

In a sign the British housing market could be slowly recovering, housebuilder Taylor Wimpey said it had seen stability in the past six weeks. Its shares rose nine percent

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tags: Markets, Money