LONDON, Aug 6: European stock markets added on Monday to gains made before the weekend, owing to upbeat US jobs data and rumours of progress in the eurozone debt crisis, traders said.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index of top companies rose by 0.37 per cent to close at 5,808.77 points.

Frankfurt's DAX 30 gained 0.77 per cent to 6,918.72 points and in Paris the CAC 40 climbed 0.81 per cent to 3,401.56 points.

Madrid leapt by 4.41 per cent and Milan added 1.54 per cent.

European markets gained ground in afternoon trading amid speculation that Spain would officially ask for eurozone financial aid soon, traders said.

“These rumours are swirling around trading rooms,” said Lionel Jardin at Global Equities.

“There is nothing official but if it were to be the case, it would help clarify the situation and especially reduce risks in the financial sector,” he added.

In London, shares in Barclays Bank leapt by 4.54 per cent to 179.12 pence, and the Royal Bank of Scotland was up by 2.92 per cent at 22.31 pence, while in Paris, BNP Paribas jumped by 3.75 per cent to 33.20 euros.

In Madrid, Santander added 4.0 per cent to 5.19 euros.

On Wall Street, US stocks were also in the black meanwhile, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up by 0.58 per cent at 13,171.93 points in midday trading.—AFP