European markets surge

December 5, 2001 Posted: 1706 GMT

LONDON (CNN) -- Europe's major bourses surged on Wednesday, led by technology stocks and a strong Wall St. open.

London's FTSE 100 jumped 2.3 percent to 5,333.5 and the CAC 40 blue chip index in Paris was up 3.3 percent to 4,677.6, while Frankfurt's electronically traded Xetra Dax soared 4.2 percent to 5,224.9.

The pan-European FTSE Eurotop 300, a broader index of the region's largest stocks, was up 2.9 percent, with computer and information technology stocks adding more than 7 percent each.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 / FTSE 250 DAX 30 / DAX 100 CAC 40 / SBF 80

Infineon Technologies (FIFX), Europe's second-largest chipmaker, rocketed 13.6 percent in Germany, the region's biggest STMicroelectronics (PSTM) gained 10.5 percent and No. 3 Philips Electronics rose 8.9 percent.

ARM Holdings (ARM), Europe's biggest chip designer, climbed 10.2 percent, while UK software group Sage gained 14.2 percent after posting a 12 percent rise in annual profits, thanks to strong demand for its low-priced accounting programs.

British mobile phone company mmO2 added 10.1 percent as it began the first European trial of third generation phones on the Isle of Man.

In other sectors, oil stocks were boosted by Russia's move to cut 150,000 barrels of production a day.

Russia's decision to increase its output reduction from a meagre 50,000 barrels announced last month could be enough to trigger OPEC's 1.5 million barrel cut. OPEC promised the cut if non-cartel members slashed output by 500,000 barrels.

BP (BP-), Europe's second-largest oil company, rose 2.9 percent in London, while Shell Transport and Trading (SHEL), which owns 40 percent of Royal/Dutch Shell, the world's second-largest oil company, rose 0.9 percent. Royal Dutch, which owns the remainder, climbed 2 percent.

Market Movers

TechMark 100 Nemax 50 Nouveau Marché

French steelmaker Usinor plunged to a third-quarter loss amid declining output and prices, and said it saw no let-up in the poor industrial environment in the fourth quarter.

Its shares rose by 6.8 percent, however, as the results were better than the market had predicted.

British American Tobacco, the world's second-largest tobacco firm, which makes Lucky Strike and Dunhill cigarettes, dropped 3 percent. The company said its operating profit was likely to fall short of forecasts this year due to the economic slowdown and measures it was taking against contraband activities.

In Amsterdam, the AEX index climbed 2.8 percent and the SMI in Zurich was 1.5 percent higher, while Milan's MIB30 index added 2.8 percent.

In the U.S., key indexes soared past milestone levels on strong buying, particularly in technology leaders. In midday trade, the Nasdaq composite rose 64.52 to 2,027.62, the first time the indicator has been above 2,000 intraday since August 8, when it reached 2,038.63. The last time the Nasdaq closed above 2,000 was August 7 at 2,027.79. The Dow Jones industrial average added 159.01 to 10,052,85. the first time the index has crossed 10,000 since September 6. The Standard & Poor's 500 was up 18.83 to 1,163.63.