LONDON, Sept 13: European stock markets rose on Wednesday, with fashion retailers leading the way in London, after Wall Street gained overnight on weaker oil prices, dealers said.London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares climbed 0.17 per cent to 5,905.30 points in late morning deals. Frankfurt's DAX 30 rose 0.26 per cent to 5,888.81 points and in Paris the CAC 40 index gained 0.16 per cent to 5,134.40.

The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index of leading eurozone shares increased 0.19 per cent to 3,796.26 points. The euro stood at 1.2684 dollars.

US stocks powered higher Tuesday as sliding prices of oil and other commodities eased market fears about inflation, while strong earnings from investment giant Goldman Sachs added further support, dealers said.

Japanese share prices closed mixed Wednesday, with modest gains made on a technical rebound after recent heavy losses offset by continued concerns over the economic outlook.

In London, Next surged 6.16 per cent to 1,810 pence after the high street and catalogue fashion retailer reported better-than-expected first-half results,

BAE Systems meanwhile gained 0.91 per cent to 389 pence after the British defence group reported a 28-per cent rise in interim net profit to 405 million pounds (598 million euros, 759 million dollars) in the first half of 2006.

Alongside the results, BAE's chief executive Mike Turner gave an insight into the impact of strains within Airbus, saying the European planemaker might have to raise extra cash from shareholders.

BAE Systems is seeking shareholder approval to sell its own 20-per cent stake in Airbus to the Franco-German aerospace firm EADS, whose share price rose 0.38 per cent to 23.77 euros in Paris on Wednesday.

In Milan shares in Alitalia fell by 6.42 per cent to 0.85 euros after the airline had reported an increased net loss in the first half.

In New York on Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.89 per cent to close at 11,498.09 points and the tech-heavy Nasdaq leapt 1.96 per cent to 2,215.82.

The Standard and Poor's 500 broad-market index advanced 1.04 per cent to 1,313.11 points.

—AFP