Britain's top share index rallied nearly 3 percent on its first trading day of 2009 and extended its winning run to four sessions on the back of commodities stocks. Defensive drugmakers fell after outperforming last year. The FTSE 100 closed at 4,561.79 points, up 127.62 or 2.88 percent, adding 345.2 points since Dec 24 according to Reuters. EUROPE - European shares finished higher, the first trading day of the year, with commodity shares rising on higher energy and metals prices, banks gaining, and a strong opening on Wall Street adding to positive sentiment. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares rose 3 percent to close at 856.79 points. The index rose 6.6 percent over the shortened week, but fell more than 44 percent in 2008, hurt by a credit crisis that helped to tip several major economies into recession. FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 4,973.07 points, up 162.87 or 3.39 percent, since Christmas Eve the index has gained 343.69 points. PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,349.69 points, up 131.72 or 4.09 percent, rising 233.48 points from Dec 24. ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,534.53 points, up 69.57 or 1.27 percent, up 134.95 points since Christmas Eve close. MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 15,505 points, up 409 or 2.71 percent, 641 points higher since Dec 24. TOKYO - Japanese markets were closed on Friday. Markets will reopen for a half-day on Jan 5 and resume full-day trade from Jan 6. On Tuesday, December 30 the Nikkei closed at 8859.56, 342.46 points healthier than a Christmas Eve close. HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares kicked off 2009 on a firm note, rising 4.6 percent to a two-week high amid thin volumes, led by strong gains in Chinese telecom companies on hopes of the imminent issuance of 3G licences. The Hang Seng Index finished the day 655.33 points higher at 15,042.81, putting on 858.67 points since the Christmas Eve close. SYDNEY - Australian stocks slipped 0.2 percent, a shaky start to 2009 as three of the nation's four biggest banks recoiled and retailer Woolworths also declined. The S&P/ASX 200 index lost 8.5 points to end at 3,713.8, but 131.6 better off than the Christmas Eve close. The index lost 41 percent in 2008, its worst performance ever. JOHANNESBURG - South African stocks rose during the year's first trading session, boosted by strong industrial metals, while firmer global markets also helped lift the rand. The All-share index closed at 21,764.9 points, up 255.7 or 1.19 percent, adding 766.41 points since Dec 24. The All Gold index closed at 2,278.09 points, up 28.15 or 1.25 percent, up 118.59 points from Dec 24, while the Industrial index closed at 16,675.05 points, down 251.89 or 1.49 percent, losing 26.14 points since Christmas Eve.
