LONDON, (Reuters):

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Friday.

LONDON: Britain's FTSE 100 index of leading shares scaled new six-year highs, propped up by a robust banking sector and multiple stock upgrades after a burst of earnings on Thursday.

The FTSE 100 closed at 6382.8 points, up 36.4 or 0.57 per cent on the day and 71.9 points better off than last Friday. It was also the highest closing level since December 2000, after notching up a 2.6 per cent rise since the start of the year.

EUROPE: European shares closed stronger, boosted by automobiles, while investors also kept an eye on a two-day G7 meeting where hardline comments on the yen could hurt stocks by crimping liquidity.

Carmaker DaimlerChrysler rallied 3.2 per cent after placing a stake in EADS. Markets will eye a flood of results next week, with banking shares, which have broadly outperformed, among those due to report earnings.

Shares in French-American telecoms equipment provider Alcatel-Lucent were little changed as the company forecast a tough outlook.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index closed 0.5 per cent higher at 1,542.03.

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 6911.11 points, up 34.38 or 0.50 per cent, gaining 25.35 points in the week.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 5692.45 points, up 27.35 or 0.48 per cent on the day, rising on the week by 15.15 points.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 9292.06 points, up 62.73 or 0.68 per cent, adding 31.57 points since last weekend.

MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 33012 points, up 215 or 0.66 per cent, winning 194 points over the week.

TOKYO - The Nikkei rose 1.23 per cent as shipping firms including Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha rebounded after UBS raised its target prices, and exporters such as Canon advanced on a softer yen.

The Nikkei rose 211.85 points to close at 17,504.33, down 42.78 points since February 2.

HONG KONG - Hong Kong blue chips fell 0.3 per cent as HSBC came under further pressure a day after its surprise bad-debt provisions warning, eclipsing extended gains in Esprit.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed down 57.39 points at 20,677.66, rising 113.98 points over the week.

SYDNEY - Australian shares rose 0.5 per cent to end at a record closing peak, as firmer oil prices lifted energy stocks and as banks, led by Commonwealth Bank of Australia, gained on hopes of strong earnings.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index gained 27.7 points to close at 5,927.2, up 95.7 points since last Friday.

JOHANNESBURG - South African mining stocks like Gold Fields jumped, spurred by higher metals prices, helping the bourse rebound.

The All-share added 0.27 per cent or 69.95 points to close at 25,666.81, ending 12.38 down on the week. The All Gold index closed at 2,822.99 points, down 93.70 or 3.43 per cent, but 61.37 higher since last Friday. The Industrial index closed at 18,259.77 points, down 14.00 or 0.08 per cent on the day and shedding 113.69 points since last weekend.