September 29, 2006	Friday	Ramazan 5, 1427

LONDON, Sept 28: European stock markets slightly up on Thursday after gains by rival global indices, while energy majors benefited from a brief surge in crude prices, dealers said.

London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares climbed 0.42 per cent to 5,954.90 points in morning trade, Frankfurt's DAX 30 gained 0.08 per cent to 5,994.57 points and in Paris, the CAC 40 index rose 0.23 per cent to 5,255.05.

The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index of leading eurozone shares increased 0.07 per cent to 3,898.37 points.

The euro stood at 1.2718 dollars.

Wall Street's benchmark Dow Jones index flirted with an all-time high Wednesday but came up short as the market digested a better-than-expected report on the US housing market.

In Europe, oil giants won support after world crude prices staged a technical rally Wednesday to bounce back above $60 a barrel despite a large increase to US stockpiles of fuel.

Cairn Energy jumped 1.83 per cent to 1,890 pence and BG Group rose 1.79 per cent to 655 pence in London. French oil group Total won 1.27 per cent to 51.85 euros in Paris.

Helped by hawkish remarks from the Opec cartel, New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in November, advanced $1.95 to close at $62.96 per barrel on Wednesday. In London, Brent North Sea crude for November delivery rose $2.09 to settle at $62.21 per barrel.

Heavyweight mining shares meanwhile continued their positive run, fuelled by further strength across commodity prices.

Antofagasta gained 2.06 per cent to 457.75 pence and Xstrata advanced 1.95 per cent to 2,199 pence.

Heading the FTSE 100 leaderboard was Brambles Industries. The Australia-based support services group surged 4.06 per cent to 487 pence on speculation it could soon face a takeover bid, dealers said.In New York on Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average of 30 blue-chip shares ended up 0.17pc at 11,689.24 points, the second-best finish.

The benchmark index traded as high as 11,720.77, within just two points of its all-time closing high of 11,722.98 reached January 14, 2000.—AFP