November 16, 2006	Thursday	Shawwal 23, 1427

LONDON, Nov 15: European stock markets rose strongly on Wednesday as investors took their lead from record performances on Wall Street and in Hong Kong.

In recent weeks, markets in Paris, London and Frankfurt have traded at their highest levels for more than five years, boosted by strong US trade, solid earnings and takeover news.

In Europe on Wednesday, London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares added 0.41 per cent to 6,211.80 points, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index gained 0.48 per cent to 6,418.20 and in Paris the CAC 40 increased 0.40 per cent to 5,498.17 points.

The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index of top eurozone shares won 0.40 per cent to 4,100.75 points.

The euro stood at 1.2809 dollars. In Frankfurt trade, Infineon shares surged 3.17pc to 9.77 euros after Qimonda, the group's memory chip unit, said fourth quarter net income more than quadrupled compared to last year thanks to strong demand.

In London, EMI shares jumped 1.83 per cent to 278.25 pence on London's second-tier FTSE 250 shares index after the British music group released in-line interim results.

Investors were also absorbing news that seven big investment banks were planning a new pan-European platform for trading shares, a direct challenge to established stock markets at a turbulent time for the industry.—AFP