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European sharemarkets ended the trading week positively, led higher by British Airways, who reported a 45 percent jump in their annual profit.
Shares in British Airways rose the most in a four fortnight, adding over four percent after the carrier reported that its annual profit in the year ended March 31 2008 was STG883 million (US$1.72 billion), nearly double on last years result.
Energy shares also finished the week higher, with British Energy Group, the UK's biggest nuclear-power producer, rising to a one-week high, while Royal Dutch Shell Plc posted gains as crude oil reached yet another record, topping US$127 a barrel for the first time.
At the close of trading on Friday, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of pan-European blue chips added 5.340 points, or 0.393 percent, to close at 1,365.20, while the UK's FTSE 100 index added 52.50 points, or 0.84 percent, to close at 6304.30.
France's CAC index made a slight gain, adding 20.53 points, or 0.41 percent, to close at 5078.04, while, Germany's DAX index gained 75.50 points, or 1.07 percent, to close at 7156.55.
On the commodity markets, Brent Crude oil added US$1.21 cents or 1 percent, to close at US$124.13, while on the Forex Gold Index, gold was worth US$881.25.
(c) NewsRoom 2008
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