Dax: 2412.00 (+20.88)

German shares remained buoyant after the bourse close as an encouraging start on Wall Street and a comfortable dollar offset a marginal softening of German bonds. The 30-share IBIS DAX index of electronically-traded shares closed nearly 1 per cent ahead at 2421.93 points, a gain of 20.34 points.

CAC-40: 1953.26 (+16.36)

French shares closed up, buoyed by higher bond prices and gains on Wall Street, dealers said. Activity centred on defence-related shares following plans to merge Dassault and Aerospatiale as part of a restructuring of the military sector. Dassault Aviation extended its gains, rising 23 francs to Ffr475 after Wednesday's merger news. Labinal added Ffr25 to Ffr655. Lagardere edged up half a franc to Ffr127 in heavy volume.

Mibtel: 9440 (+8)

The Milan bourse trundled to an almost flat finish after letting earlier gains slip through its fingers as bonds tripped lower, traders said.