January 10, 2006	Tuesday	Zilhaj 9, 1426

LONDON, Jan 9: European stock markets struck their highest points in four and a half years on Monday, lifted by mining and auto shares. London’s FTSE 100 index of leading shares rose 0.19 per cent to 5,742.90 points in early afternoon deals, Frankfurt’s DAX 30 climbed 0.17 per cent to 5,545.77 points and in Paris the CAC 40 gained 0.29 per cent to 4,881.06.

The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index of leading eurozone shares advanced 0.29 per cent to 3,677.71 points.

The euro stood at $1.2076.

On Friday, Wall Street’s main indices hit four-and-a-half-year highs after a weaker-than-expected jobs report raised hopes for a quick end to the Federal Reserve cycle of interest-rate hikes, dealers said.

Such a move would ease pressure on borrowing costs for companies.

In London on Monday, heavyweight mining stocks shone on the back of strong metals prices.

Kazakh copper miner Kazakhmys jumped 1.55 per cent to 787 pence, Anglo-Australian miner BHP Billiton climbed 1.38 per cent to 991.5 pence and peer Rio Tinto gained 0.94 per cent to 2,698 pence.

Elsewhere, easyJet topped the second-tier FTSE 250 index, surging 6.25 per cent to 403.5 pence on renewed takeover speculation and strong December passenger numbers, dealers said.

A report in the Sunday Times also claimed the British no-frills airline had recruited Goldman Sachs to defend it from a potential bid from FL Group, the acquisitive Icelandic company that owns Icelandair.—AFP