European stocks extend gains

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — Europe's main stock markets rose strongly on Wednesday as oil prices cooled further and after an overnight bounce on Wall Street which helped to lift Asian equity prices, traders said.

Approaching midday trade in London, the FTSE 100 index of top companies stood at 5,398.20 points, a rise of 1.04 percent.

Frankfurt's DAX 30 gained 0.84 percent to 6,452.36 points and in Paris, the CAC 40 advanced 1.32 percent to 4,377.52.

The Euro Stoxx 50 index of leading eurozone shares rallied by 1.08 percent to trade at 3,360.61 points.

The European single currency stood at 1.5582 dollars.

European equities built on gains that had been won late on Tuesday thanks to better-than-expected consumer data from the United States.

Wall...