August 25, 2007	Saturday	Sha’aban 11, 1428

LONDON, Aug 24: Europe’s main stock markets enjoyed mixed fortunes on Friday as traders attempted to shrug off overnight losses on Wall Street amid lingering credit concerns, dealers said.

London’s FTSE 100 index of leading shares gained 0.19 per cent to 6,208.80 points and in Paris the CAC 40 rose 0.20 per cent to 5,534.46 points.

However, Frankfurt’s DAX 30 dropped 0.28 per cent to 7,490.62 points and the DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index of top eurozone shares lost 0.19 per cent to 4,217.75.

The euro stood at $1.3573.

This week, Frankfurt, London and Paris markets have been in recovery mode as investors sought to shake off recent equities turmoil that was sparked by the faltering US housing market.

But markets ended Thursday on a stable note as Wall Street spluttered after the US Federal Reserve’s move to increase its liquidity injection to markets.

New York shares had finished lower Thursday as renewed jitters about a credit squeeze put the market back on a cautious footing.

In London on Friday, shares in British Land jumped 2.15 per cent to 1,285 pence after the property group received a broker upgrade from Lehman Brothers.

Across in Paris, steel titan Arcelor Mittal was also lifted by a broker upgrade from Merrill Lynch.

Arcelor stock jumped 2.71 per cent higher to 45.05 euros.

Britain-based emerging markets bank Standard Chartered saw its share price dive 2.48pc to 1,532 pence.And Northern Rock saw its shares slip 0.13 per cent to 756 pence after a report that the home loan provider had effectively closed its British subprime mortgage business.—AFP