The FTSEurofirst 300 <.FTEU3> index of top European shares rose 1 percent to 978.34 points. Over the week, the index climbed 1.2 percent, its sixth weekly gain in the last seven weeks.

The European benchmark index is up more than 51 percent from its lifetime low of March 9, as investors have become more confident on the prospects of economic recovery.

“Things look good for the time being, but the higher we go the more we could be setting ourselves up for a disappointment,” said Andy Lynch, a fund manager at Schroders.

“The world economy is doing well, French and German GDP are positive, but that’s not surprising given the amount of stimulus being pumped into the market. I have a concern about what happens when the sugar rush is withdrawn, though that may be a problem for 2010, rather than now.”

Nokia rose 3.1 percent, taking its gain in the last three sessions to 9.9 percent, with traders citing positive momentum following the announcement of its first Linux phone to compete with Apple’s iPhone.

STMicroelectronics rose 12.4 percent after a bullish note on the chipmaker from Banc of America-Merrill Lynch, which raised its price target for the stock by 17 percent to 7 euros, and retained its “buy” rating.

The sector was further boosted by upbeat statements from U.S. bellwethers. Intel raised its third-quarter outlook and results at Dell were ahead of forecasts.

Macroeconomic news was also mostly positive. U.S. consumer spending rose as expected in July, lifted by the government’s “cash-for-clunkers” programme that fuelled demand for autos. The Commerce Department said spending rose 0.2 percent after rising by a revised 0.6 percent in June, previously reported as a 0.4 percent gain.

The European benchmark had risen to a 10-month high of 986.59 before gains were tempered by Reuters/University of Michigan surveys showing U.S. consumer confidence falling to its lowest level in four months in August on worries over high unemployment and dismal personal finances.

L’OREAL RISES

Among other individual movers, L’Oreal advanced 7.4 percent to a 10-month high after the French beauty products giant posted better-than-expected first-half profit.

French conglomerate Bouygues surged 9.1 percent after raising its full-year sales target and posting better-than-expected first-half results.

Commerzbank jumped 7.2 percent on talk Germany might be seeking to reduce its stake in the country’s second-largest bank. A spokesman for the finance ministry denied the speculation.

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA , Italy’s biggest retail bank, rose 2.4 percent as second-quarter profit beat analysts’ forecast and it confirmed its outlook for the full year.

Other banks to rise in the heavyweight sector included Barclays , HSBC , Lloyds , Societe Generale and UBS , up between 1.3 and 6.3 percent.

Miners rose as copper touched 11-month highs. BHP Billiton , Anglo American , Rio Tinto and Xstrata rose between 1.7 and 4.4 percent.

A slew of macroeconomic data also signalled improving conditions in Europe. Britain’s economy shrank a smaller-than-expected 0.7 percent in the second quarter. Euro zone economic sentiment, too, improved more than expected in August.

Britain’s FTSE 100 <.FTSE> index closed 0.8 percent higher. It has gained 6.5 percent in August. The London market will be closed on Monday for a holiday.

Germany’s DAX <.GDAXI> and France’s CAC 40 <.FCHI> rose 0.9 and 1.2 percent, respectively.

“There is only one clear trend in the market and that’s on the upside. People are coming back with a lot of inflows in favour of equities and outflows are coming from the money market,” said Romain Boscher, head of equity management at Groupama Asset Management, in Paris.

Aug 28 (Reuters)

The rally in financial stocks led the three major indexes to post gains of more than 3%.

At the New York close, the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average Index had posted a gain of 391.96 points (3.20%), to close at 12,654.85. The tech-laden Nasdaq Composite Index increased 82.14 points (3.60%), to reach 2,361.24. And the broader Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 47.17 points (3.57%), to hit 1,369.87.

All sectors were up with the financial sector (up 4.47%), the services sector (up 3.29%) and the technology sector (up 3.18%) posting the biggest gains.

In today’s going, stocks edged higher after a shaky start on hopes that Friday’s employment report will bring good news.

The Dow Jones industrial Average rose 21.25 points to 12,673.25, with 17 its 30 components trading lower.

Read on at MarketWatch.com.

“The stock market is beginning to offer some attractive bargains,” says Chris Mayer.

“Several great mutual funds, long closed to investors, are now open again for new investors. These include the Tweedy Browne Global Value Fund, the Longleaf Partners Fund, the First Eagle Global and Overseas funds, the Third Avenue International Value Fund and the First Pacific Crescent Fund. They’re open because they have more ideas than they have money. They want to buy.

“I’d give these funds a look, because they don’t tend to stay open for long. The opening of these funds, captained by investors with long track records of success, is also an indicator that the smart money is buying.”

Read on here.