LONDON, June 1: Europe's main stock markets rose on Friday as earlier gains in Tokyo offset a subdued overnight performance in New York, dealers said. London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares rose 0.29 per cent to 6,640.30, Frankfurt's DAX 30 added 0.75 per cent to 7,942.09 points and in Paris the CAC 40 gained 0.54 per cent to 6,136.97.

The euro stood at 1.3436 dollars.

Wall Street had closed mixed on Thursday as traders digested first-quarter US economic data that showed growth slowed to a four-year low but encouraging signs of a rebound.

Japanese share prices ended the week at a fresh three-month high Friday as the weak yen boosted exporters and after the tech-heavy Nasdaq advanced overnight, dealers said.

Utilities remained among the top gainers across Europe amid ongoing sector consolidation hopes.

In Madrid, Iberdrola topped the gainer board -- surging 3.57 per cent at 44.43 euros -- on ongoing hopes it will be part of the next wave of sector consolidation.

Earlier this week, Suez shareholder and deputy chairman Albert Frere took a stake of over 5 per cent in the Spanish electricity group.

In Frankfurt, E.ON, which issued ambitious targets on Thursday, added a further 1.24 per cent to 123.70 euros after brokers JP Morgan and Exane BNP Paribas lifted their price targets for the German utility.

In Paris, EDF, which industry experts expect to take part in sector consolidation, added 2.52 per cent to 70.67 euros.

Across the Atlantic on Thursday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.04 per cent to close at 13,627.64, a day after hitting its 25th record finish of the year, and the Nasdaq added 0.46 per cent to 2,604.47.

The Standard and Poor's 500 broad-market index gained 0.02 per cent to 1,530.62, after smashing a seven-year record high Wednesday.

Traders weighed a look backward on US gross domestic product (GDP), after the Commerce Department revised growth in the January-March period down to 0.6 per cent, from last month's estimate of 1.3 per cent.

Hong Kong's key Hang Seng Index closed down 0.15 per cent at 20,602.87 points after the Shanghai bourse finished sharply lower amid worries that China may take additional measures to rein in its markets, dealers said.

Chinese share prices closed lower on continued concerns over more possible tightening policies following a hike in stock transaction taxes earlier this week, dealers said.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A- and B-shares listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, fell 2.65 per cent to finish at 4,000.72 points.—AFP