Europe's main stock markets closed higher on Thursday on upbeat news that Ireland could become the first eurozone nation to emerge from its bailout programme and a decline of US jobless claims for a third straight week, dealers said.

Europe's main stock markets rose on Thursday as investors took heart from news that Ireland could become the first eurozone nation to emerge from its bailout programme and US jobless claims declined for a third straight week, dealers said.

Europe's main stock markets rose on Thursday as investors took heart from news that Ireland could become the first eurozone nation to emerge from its bailout programme, dealers said.

Asian markets mostly rose on Thursday, while the dollar climbed against the yen after Japan's parliament agreed the government's nominees to lead the Bank of Japan.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average set a new record closing for the seventh straight day Wednesday as US stocks registered small gains.

European stock markets closed mostly in negative territory on Wednesday as traders cashed in recent gains and chewed over mixed eurozone inflation figures.

Commerzbank shares plunged Wednesday after Germany's second-largest bank said it would carry out a 2.5-billion-euro ($3.3-billion) capital hike to pay back state bailouts received during the 2008-2009 financial crisis.

European stock markets fell on Wednesday, mirroring earlier losses in Asia, as traders cashed in recent gains and chewed over mixed eurozone inflation figures.

European stock markets fell on Wednesday, mirroring earlier losses in Asia, as traders cashed in recent gains and absorbed diverging eurozone inflation data.

London equities dropped at the start of trading on Wednesday following losses overnight in Tokyo and a mixed performance on Wall Street.

Japanese airlines on Wednesday hoped for a rapid resumption of Dreamliner operations after US authorities approved test flights using a prototype battery fix following a global safety scare.

China Everbright Bank, a mid-sized lender, said on Wednesday it would relaunch plans to list shares in Hong Kong, after earlier aborted attempts at an overseas stock offer.

Japanese airlines on Wednesday welcomed US approval of test flights of the grounded Boeing 787 with prototype versions of the battery fix, holding out hopes for a resumption of its operations.

US stocks closed mostly lower Tuesday in quiet trade, but the Dow squeezed out a sixth straight day of record-high closings.

US stocks closed mostly lower Tuesday in quiet trade, but the Dow closed at a record high for the sixth straight day, by a whisker.

South Africa's currency and equities markets slumped on Tuesday after revised figures showed the country's current account in late 2012 was worse than first thought.

US stocks were mostly higher in early trade Tuesday, with the Dow and the S&P 500 extending seven days of gains, while the Nasdaq sank under pressure from tech heavyweight Apple.

US stocks opened lower Tuesday as investors took a pause after a series of gains took the Dow to a record close for five days in a row.

US stocks brushed off an early move toward a correction and added to the bull run, with the Dow setting a fresh record for the fifth straight day.

Shares in London strengthened at the close on Monday, gaining ground in tandem with a rally on Wall Street, where investors continued to draw confidence from last week's positive US jobs data.