European markets saw gains Friday.

The pan-European FTSE Eurofirst 300 was 0.62 percent higher to 1,576.75.

Frankfurt’s Dax was up 0.21 percent to 7,949.17, while the Paris CAC-40 gained 0.6 percent to 5,794.87 and the IBEX jumped 1.42 percent to 15,603.9.

In Madrid, Banco Santander (IBEX-35: SAN; LSE: BNC; NYSE: STD) added 1.6 percent to €14.38 as Citigroup upgraded it from “hold” to “buy”, while builder Acciona (IBEX-35: ANA) was up 2.7 percent to €215.

Carmakers were up in Europe on quarterly results.

Renault (Euronext: RNO) was 3.32 percent higher to €110.91, gaining on news that Nissan Motor’s (TYO: 7201) quarterly report.

Renault owns 44 percent of Nissan.

Peugeot (Euronext UG; OTC: PEUGY) added 6.31 percent to €61.46 for the best performance on the CAC-40 after it said sales were up 12 percent in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen (FWB: VOW; OTC: VLKAY) had the best day on the Dax as it gained 4.18 percent to €181.91 ahead it its third-quarter results.

Truck maker Man (FWB: EDF1) was also higher, up 1.08 percent to €119.88.

Telecommunications utilities were mixed after Thursday’s gains.

Deutsche Telekom (FWB: DT; LSE: DEU; TYO: 9496) was 2.51 percent higher to €14.27, but France Telekom (Euronext: FTE; NYSE: FTE) dropped 0.54 percent to €25.66.

Gas and electricity utilities were also mixed as Suez (Euronext: SZE; NYSE: SZE) gained 1.19 percent to €44.93, but Eon (FWB: EOA; LSE: EON; NYSE: EON) fell 1.06 percent to €133.76.

In the airlines sector, Air France (Euronext: AF; NYSE: AHK) was up 0.7 percent to €25.83 while Lufthansa (FWB: LHA) was down 0.64 percent to €20.07.

Europe’s markets saw gains Thursday.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up 1 percent to 1,565.18.

Madrid’s IBEX added 1.02 percent to 15,386, while the Dax gained 1.32 percent to 7,932.44 and the Paris CAC-40 jumped 1.51 percent to 5,760.3.

Telecommunications utilities did well on the day after France Telecom (Euronext: FTE; NYSE: FTE) reported that profits were up 4.3 percent and sales added 3.3 percent in the third quarter.

France Telecom was 8.68 percent higher to €25.80 for the best performance on the CAC-40, while Deutsche Telekom (FWB: DT; LSE: DEU; TYO: 9496) had the best day on the Dax with a gain of 4.03 percent to €13.94.

Dresdner Kleinwort raised its recommendation on France Telecom from “hold” to “buy”.

Alstom (Euronext: ALO) added 6.14 percent to €161.36 on a broker upgrade, while Bouygues (Euronext: EN) was 6.12 percent higher to €65.59 after Lehman Brothers began coverage with a rating of “overweight”.

Cosmetics manufacturer L’Oreal (Euronext: OR) had the worst day on the CAC-40, where it dropped 2.27 percent to €89.36 after UBS issued a downgrade from “buy” to “neutral” even though L’Oreal said that revenues in the third quarter were up by 7 percent.

Other losers on the session included truck maker Man (FWB: EDF1), which had the worst day on the Dax with a decline of 1.48 perent to €118.79.

Insurer Allianz (FWB: ALV; NYSE: AZ) was 1 percent lower to €150.13, while in the banking sector Commerzbank (FWB: CBK) dropped 0.91 percent to €28.33.

European equities markets saw gains on Monday.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was 0.54 percent higher to 1,481.43, with Madrid’s IBEX adding 0.22 percent to 14,269.1, the Dax up 0.4 percent to 7,407.53 in Frankfurt, and the Paris CAC-40 gaining 0.67 percent to 5,399.38.

Utilities were mostly higher.

The exception was RWE (FWB: RWE), which fell 1.2 percent to €80.72 in Frankfurt.

In Spain, Iberdrola (IBEX-35: IBE) added 0.6 percent to €39.27.

Among Paris-listed utilities Suez (Euronext: SZE; NYSE: SZE) was 1.56 percent higher to €37.65 and EDF (Euronext: EEN) was 2.18 percent higher to €70.87, while power generator Alstom (Euronext: ALO) had the best day on the CAC-40 with a gain of 3.54 percent to €122.37.

The telecommunications sector was also higher.

Spain’s Telefonica (IBEX-35: TEF; Euronext: TEF; NYSE: TEF; LSE: TDE; FWB: TEF; TYO: 9481) was 0.4 percent higher to €17.43 on the news that its O2 unit in German will drop its Internet services fee to a flat monthly rate.

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext: ALU; NYSE: ALU; TYO: 6687) was up 1.81 percent to €7.87, while Deutsche Telekom (FWB: DTE; NYSE: DT; LSE: DEU; TYO: 9496) gained 2.12 percent to €13.45. The steel sector made gains.

ThyssenKrupp (FWB: TKA; LSE: THK) gained 2.05 percent to €40.88, while Mittal Steel (Euronext: MT; NYSE: MT) was 3.43 percent higher to €41.28.

Banks were mixed.

While HypoVereinsbank (FWB: HVM) was 1.1 percent higher to €40.21, Deutsche Bank (FWB: DBK; NYSE: DB) was the worst performer on the Dax with a drop of 1.45 percent to €93.30.

On the CAC-40, Societe Generale (Euronext: GLE) fell 0.18 percent to €117.95.

The worst performance on the session on the CAC-40, however, came from Air France (Euronext: AF; NYSE: AKH), which fell 0.8 percent to €27.30.

Deutsche Boerse (FWB: DB1) had the best day on the Dax with a gain of 3.51 percent to €79.75.

European markets were lower on intensifying worries concerning the subprime sector.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 fell 1.82 percent to 1,526.04.

In Madrid the IBEX dropped 1.11 percent to 14,838.3, while the Dax was 2 percent lower to 7,453.59 in Frankfurt and the Paris CAC-40 dropped 5,624.78.

Banks declined after BNP Paribas (Euronext: BNP; TYO: 8665) said it was suspending withdrawals from 3 funds due to issues related to the subprime sector problems in the United States.

BNP dropped 3.4 percent to €82.57 on the announcement.

Among other banks Deutsche Bank (FWB: DBK; NYSE: DB) was 3.94 percent lower to €98.43, while Credit Agricole (Euronext: ACA) fell 4.11 percent to €27.76, Societe Generale (Euronext: GLE) was 4.22 percent lower to €128.63 and Commerzbank (FWB: CBK) dropped 4.31 percent to €29.96.

Commerzbank was lower even though it reported that profits were double last year’s during the same period and said that the current problems in the subprime sector would not keep it from surpassing its target for profit in the full year.

The situation wasn’t helped by news that the European Central Bank had loaned €94.8 billion on a sudden demand for cash from banks, sending overnight lending rates to their highest level in 6 years, a state of affairs that some analysts labeled a sign of panic.

Elsewhere, airlines were also lower on the session.

Lufthansa (FWB: LHA) was 4.25 percent lower to €19.86, while Air France (Euronext: AF; NYSE: AKH) had the worst performance of the day on the CAC-40 with a drop of 6.27 percent to €30.20.

There were some gains on the day.

STMicroelectronics (Euronext: STM; NYSE: STM) had the best day on the CAC-40 as it added 0.92 percent to €12.11, while Volkswagen (FWB: VOW; OTC: VLKAY) was the best performer on the Dax with a gain of 1.27 percent to €141.33.

In the telecommunications sector, Deutsche Telekom (FWB: DTE; LSE: DEU; NYSE: DT; TYO: 9496) was up 0.84 percent to €13.23 even though it reported that profits were lower in the second quarter.

Equities markets saw gains in Europe on Thursday.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 added 0.64 percent to 1,536.03.

In Paris the CAC-40 was 0.49 percent higher to 5,682.07, while the IBEX gained 0.6 percent to 14,682.7 in Madrid and the Dax was up 0.81 percent to 7,534.13 in Frankfurt.

Banks saw gains in Paris, with Societe Generale (Euronext: GLE) adding 4.3 percent to €129.89 for the best performance of the day on the CAC-40 after it reported that net profits were up by almost 33 percent in the quarter ending in June.

BNP Paribas, meanwhile, was 1.43 percent higher to €81.80 on target share price updates from UBS (NYSE: UBS; SWX: UBSN; TYO: 8657) and Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS; SWX: CSGN), from €97 to €104 and from €100 to €103 respectively.

In Frankfurt, the best performer on the session came from Fresenius Medical Care (FWB: FREG), which gained 3.87 percent to €35.87 after it reported that second quarter profits rose by 38 percent, topping analyst estimates.

Fresenius also increased its full-year sales forecast.

In the telecommunications sector, France Telecom (Eurofirst: FTE; NYSE: FTE) was also aided by profits news, adding 3 percent to €20.25 after it reported that lower taxes and more broadband internet subscribers had sent first-half profits up by 41 percent.

Deutsche Telekom (FWB: DTE; NYSE: DT; LSE: DEU; TYO: 9496) was also higher, gaining 2.72 percent to €12.87.

Utilities were mixed, with Suez (Euronext: SZE; NYSE: SZE) up 1.61 to €38.58 and RWE (FWB: RWE) adding 1.54 percent to €78.94 but EDF (Euronext: EEN) down 0.56 percent to €74.35.

The biggest loser in Paris on the day was Total (Euronext: FP; NYSE: TOT), which dropped 2.32 percent to €56.06.

Consumer goods manufacturer Henkel (FWB: HEN3) fell 3.95 percent to €36.98 for the biggest decline of the session on the Dax.

Other decliners included IT services group Cap Gemini (Euronext: CAP), which was 2.28 percent lower to €47.25.

Schneider Electric (Euronext: SCHN) was down 0.75 percent to €97.76 after this week’s announcement that it has acquired the privately-held California-based security systems maker Pelco, the largest CCTV manufacturer in the US, for $1.54 billion cash.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was 0.9 percent lower on Thursday to 1,469.02 after going as high as 1,495.16 during the day. The declines came as most global markets were down for a third day in a row. The CAC 40 in Paris dropped 1.1 percent, as did the Xetra Dax in Frankfurt, to 5,458.40 and 6,640.24 respectively. Meanwhile, the RTS in Moscow dropped another 5.72 percent to 1,797.10.

Banks were mixed on the day. Alpha Bank (OTC: ALBKY) dropped 5.6 percent to €22 on a lowered target share price from Credit Suisse, which nonetheless reiterated its “outperform” rating on the Greek bank even though it found Alpha’s fourth-quarter report lacking. On the other hand, Erste Bank (WBAG: EBS; OTC EBKDY) added 0.6 percent to €56.50 on results that were better than had been anticipated. Swedbank (Stockholm Stock Exchange: SWED A) added 3.5 percent to SKr249 after losses the past two session.

In the telecommunications sector, Deutsche Telekom (NSYE: DT; LSE: DEU; TYO: 9496) dropped 3.8 percent to €13.04 on full-year net profits that were down by 43 percent. The German telecom also revised downward its core earnings prediction for 2007.

Software group SAP (FWB: SAP; NYSE: SAP) added 3.8 percent to €36.13 on rumors that private equity is interested in acquiring a major stake in the Germany company. Additionally, rumors continued to circulate that the software maker would mount a share buy-back. The company refused to comment.

In Europe on Tuesday, the FTSE Eurofirst 300 was 0.3 percent higher to 1,522.27.

The airline sector was higher on news from mergers and acquisitions, as well as on recent broker upgrades and recent lower oil prices. Lufthansa was 1.8 percent higher to €21.76 and Iberia of Spain gained 2.3 percent to €3.17. Ryanair added 8 percent to €11.12. Air France-KLM was up 7.2 percent to €35.01 after it said that the time was not right for it to bid on more shares in Alitalia. It already has a strategic partnership with the Italian air carrier. Alitalia was not lacking for suitors however, as it has received expressions of interest from 11 potential bidders. The Italian airline added 3.6 percent on the session to €1.13.

In the pharmaceuticals sector, Sanofi-Aventis dropped 0.7 percent to €68.55 even though rumors continued to circulate that it is near the announcement of a merger with US pharma Bristol-Myers Squibb. The decline came as analysts at Bear Sterns said that the large amount of cash that would have to be part of the deal in order for Bristol-Myers to accept a deal could dilute earnings. However Bear Sterns and Deutsche Bank both said that there would be advantages to such a deal.

The telecommunications sector was mixed. Deutsche Telekom dropped 0.1 percent to €13.59, but France Telecom added 0.5 percent to €21.29 and Telecom Italia gained 0.7 percent to €2.29.

In Europe on Monday the FTSE Eurofirst 300 added 0.3 percent to 1,517.07 on Monday despite declines in the telecommunications sector.

Telecoms were lower after Deutsche Telekom issued its second profits warning in six months, citing competition and currency issues. Citigroup lowered its recommendation on the German telecom from “hold” to “sell” and Deutsche Telekon dropped 4 percent to €13.60. Elsewhere in the sector, France Telecom fell 0.9 percent to €21.18, while Telecom Italia and Swisscom were each 1.5 percent lower, to €2.27 and SFr471.50 respectively.

Car and truck manufacturers was gains on the session. On rumors that it could be a target for Volvo, MAN added 2.6 percent to €78.86. Volvo was 1 percent higher on the talk, to SKr502, while Scania, the recent target of MAN’s failed hostile bid, was up 3.5 percent to SKr485. Fiat gained 2.8 percent to €16.67 on a target share price hike from JP Morgan.

The airline sector was up on merger hopes and on upgrades from UBS, which raised its recommendation on Lufthansa and Iberia from “neutral” to “buy” and hiked target share prices for both Ryanair and Air France-KLM. Lufthansa was up 1.1 percent to €21.38, Ryanair gained 1.3 percent to €11.04, Air France was 1.5 percent higher to €32.67, and Iberia gained 3.3 percent to €3.10. Meanwhile, Alitalia added 1.9 percent to €1.10.

In a holiday shortened week, the FTSE Eurofirst 300 added 0.2 percent to close on Friday at 1,486.08. Gains peaked on Wednesday when the index breached the 1,500 level.

Airlines did well during the week as falling crude oil prices provided the hope that fuel costs would decline. Ryanair added 5.3 percent to €10.98, while Air France-KLM was 7.2 percent higher to €34.20. Lufthansa was also helped by positive comments from brokers after it sold its 50 percent share of travel company Thomas Cook, gaining 7.8 percent over the week to €22.47.

The telecommunications sector also saw gains. Telecom Italia added 3.1 percent to €2.36, while Deutsche Telekom was 4.4 percent higher to €14.45 and KPN gained 4.9 percent to €11.30.

On the other hand, European utilities were hurt by concerns that European Union regulators would come down hard on the sector after an investigation found evidence of misbehavior. Gaz de France was 1 percent lower to €34.50 and Suez fell 2.1 percent to €38.42 among rumors that a bid for Suez from a French billionaire could prevent their proposed merger. Elsewhere in the sector, RWE dropped 3.6 percent to €80.50, while Eon was down 5.4 percent to €97.26 and Veolia Environment fell 9.2 percent over the week to €53.05.

The oil sector was hurt by falling crude oil prices. Total ended the week 3.5 percent lower to €52.75, while Neste Oil dropped 5 percent to €21.89 and Statoil fell 5.9 percent to NKr155.50.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 dropped 0.1 percent to 1,487.41 on Monday, its first losing session after ten consecutive gains. In Norway, however, the Oslo All-Share index added 1.8 percent after Norsk Hydro saw big gains on the session.

The gain for Norsk Hydro, 20.6 percent to NKr188.50, came after rival Statoil said the two will merge their oil and gas businesses to become the largest offshore oil operation in the world. Norsk’s aluminium business will continue as a stand-alone. The news sent Statoil down 1.7 percent to NKr170 after gains earlier in the session, closing at NKr170. The decline for Statoil came despite a “strong buy” rating from S&P Equitiy Research, which also set a 12-month target share price of NKr194.

The telecommunications sector was mixed on the day. Telecom Italia added 0.2 percent to €2.32, but both France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom saw declines. France Telecom dropped 0.2 percent to €20.94, but is still up 35 percent from its low point of the year, reached on August 11. Lehman Brothers issued positive comments, but WestLB was more pessimistic, downgrading its rating from “hold” to “reduce”. Deutsche Telekom fell 0.9 percent to €13.83 even though Credit Suisse upped its target share price from €10.50 to €12.50.

The insurance sector was also affected by broker actions. Italian insurer Generali dropped 1.1 percent to €34 on a downgrade from “add” to “reduce” from Dresdner Kleinwort.