Markets in Europe were higher on Wednesday.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 added 0.49 percent to 1,583.69.

In Frankfurt the Dax gained 0.29 percent to 7,985.41, while the Paris CAC-40 was up 0.77 percent to 5,818.8 and the IBEX jumped 0.99 percent to 15,430.5 in Madrid.

Food processor Groupe Danone (Euronext: BN; NYSE: DA) was the best performer on the CAC-40, adding 3.58 percent to €56.15 after it said sales were up 7 percent over the past 9 months.

Semiconductors group Infineon (FWB: IFX; NYSE: IFX) had the best day over on the Dax, gaining 2.13 percent to €11.04 after US rival Intel (NAS: INTC; SEHK: 4335) showed strong third-quarter results with profits up 43 percent and earnings coming in at 31 cents per share.

Elsewhere in the sector, STMicroelectronics (Euronext: STM; NYSE: STM) was up 0.8 percent to €11.73.

Meanwhile, chip making equipment manufacturer ASML (Euronext: ASML; NAS: ASMLD) jumped 8.2 percent to €24.35.

The steel sector was mixed.

Mittal Steel (Euronext: MT; NYSE: MT) was 2.3 percent higher to €55.16, but ThyssenKrupp (FWB: TKA; LSE: THK) dropped 0.16 percent to €43.18.

Utilities were also mixed.

Suez (Euronext: SZE; NYSE: SZE) added 1.93 percent to €43.88 and Gaz de France (Euronext: GAZ) was up 2.14 percent to €39.07, but Eon (FWB: EOA; NYSE: EON; LSE: EON) fell 0.27 percent to €131.51.

Markets were higher in Europe to end the week.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up 0.62 percent to 1,582.48.

In Paris, the CAC-40 was 0.67 percent higher to 5,843.24 while the Dax added 0.73 percent to 8,002.18 in Frankfurt and Madrid’s IBEX jumped 1.18 percent to 14,892.1.

The automobile manufacturing sector was higher.

BMW (FWB: BMW) was up 1.82 percent to €39.26, while Renault (Euronext: RNO) gained 2.11 percent to €111.36.

Volkswagen (FWB: VOW; OTC: VLKAY) added 4.38 percent to €168.17 on rumors that Porsche (FWB: POR3) could add to its stake in VW.

The steel sector also saw gains.

Mittal Steel (Euronext: MT; NYSE: MT) had the best day on the CAC-40 with a gain of 2.7 percent to €55.20, while steel products manufacturer Vallourec (Euronext: VK) was up 1.38 percent to €206.93.

Financial planners MLP (FWB: MLP) was the best performer on the Dax as it added 5.62 percent to €11.41.

Construction materials group Lafarge (Euronext: LG; NYSE: LR) gained 1.4 percent to €117.15, but builder Vinci (Euronext: DG) dropped 0.49 percent to €54.87.

The worst performance on the CAC-40 came from Lagardere (Euronext: MMB) with a decline of 1.47 percent to €58.48.

Meanwhile, chipmaker Infineon (FWB: IFX; NSYE: IFX) had the worst day on the Dax, falling 2.28 percent to €11.15.

Most European markets were higher on the session, but Madrid’s IBEX dropped 0.04 percent to 14,783.8.

In Frankfurt the Dax added 0.11 percent to 7,955.3, while the CAC-40 gained 0.12 percent to 5,806.18 in Paris.

The Pan-European FTSE Eurofirst 300 was 0.16 percent higher to 1,570.81.

Insider trading accusations sent aerospace and defense group EADS (Eurofirst: EAD; FWB: EAD) and Lagardere (Euronext: MMB), which has interests in both media and aerospace as an investor in EADS, lower on the session.

Lagardere was the day’s worst performer on the CAC-40 as it dropped 5.42 percent to €58.45, while EADS fell 0.78 percent to €21.71.

Lagardere officials said the allegations are unfounded, while EADS had no comment.

Other decliners included the semiconductors and utilities sectors.

Among chipmakers, Infineon (FWB: IFX; NYSE: IFX) was down 0.76 percent to €11.74 while STMicroelectronics (Euronext: STM; NSYE: STM) was 1.11 percent lower to €11.61.

In the utilities sector, RWE (FWB: RWE) dropped 0.76 percent to €87.01 and EDF (Euronext: EEN) fell 0.81 percent to €73.54.

Banks saw gains on the session.

Credit Agricole (Euronext: ACA) was up 1.18 percent to €28.27, while Commerzbank (FWB: CBK) was 1.22 percent higher to €29.87 and Deutsche Bank (FWB: DBK; NYSE: DB) added 2.12 percent to €95.67.

In the airlines sector, Air France (Euronext: AF; NYSE: AKH) was up 1.46 percent to €28.41.

Car and truck makers also gained ground.

Peugeot (Euronext: UG; OTC: PEUGY) was 1.52 percent higher to €60 while Renault (Euronext: RNO) gained 1.62 percent to €109.26.

Meanwhile, truck maker Man (FWB: EDF1) turned in the best performance of the day on the Dax as it added 3.85 percent to €112.96.

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext: ALU; NYSE: ALU; TYO: 6687) had the best day on the CAC-40, gaining 2.37 percent to €7.37.

European markets were mixed Friday in the last trading session of the week.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 fell 0.1 percent to 1,549.87, and while the Dax added 0.1 percent to 7,861.51 in Frankfurt, the IBEX fell 0.03 percent to 14,576.5 in Madrid and the Paris CAC-40 dropped 0.31 percent to 5,715.69.

The semiconductors sector made gains as STMicroelectronics (Euronext: STM; NYSE: STM) was 0.77 percent higher to €11.79 and Infineon (FWB: IFX; NYSE: IFX) was up 2.72 percent to €12.06.

The telecommunications sector also saw gains as Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext: ALU; NYSE: ALU; TYO: 6687) turned in the best performance of the day on the CAC-40, gaining 4.35 percent to €7.20.

France Telecom (Euronext: FTE; NYSE: FTE) was up 0.69 percent to €23.49.

Banks were mixed.

BNP Paribas (Euronext: BNP; TYO: 8665) added 0.56 percent to €76.74, but Societe Generale (Euronext: GLE) was 2.06 percent lower to €117.68.

Airlines declined on the session.

Lufthansa (FWB: LHA) dropped 0.88 percent to €20.24, while Air France (Euronext: AF; NYSE: AKH) fell 1.42 percent to €25.77.

Financial planners MLP (FWB: MLP) had the best day on the Dax, adding 3.43 percent to €9.37, while truck maker Man (FWB: EDF1) was the worst performer of the day there, falling 1.98 percent to €102.48.

Manufacturer and power generation specialist Alstom (Euronext: ALO) had the worst day on the CAC-40 as it dropped 4.09 percent to €142.57.

European markets were mixed on the session.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up, but only by 0.01 percent, or one-fifth of a point, to 1,546.48.

Madrid’s IBEX added 0.32 percent to 14,497.6, but the Dax dropped 0.08 percent to 7,787.92 in Frankfurt, while the Paris CAC-40 fell 0.14 percent to 5,692.49.

Banks were lower after Deutsche Bank (FWB: DBK; NYSE: DB) was expected to have to write off as much as €1.7 billion (£1.2 billion; $2.4 billion) because of its exposure in the current credit mess.

Deutsche Bank was down 1.8 percent to €90.24, while Commerzbank (FWB: CBK) was the worst performer on the Dax as it dropped 4.34 percent to €28.44.

Societe Generale (Euronext: GLE) was 1.35 percent lower to €118.96, while BNP Paribas (Euronext: BNP; TYO: 8665) fell 2.27 percent to €75.32.

In the semiconductors sector, Infineon (FWB: IFX; NYSE: IFX) was down 3 percent to €11.68.

Schneider Electric (Euronext: SCHN) was the worst performer on the CAC-40 as it fell 3.59 percent to €91.27 on a downgrade from Citigroup (NYSE: C).

Stock exchange operator Deutsche Boerse (FWB: DB1) had the best day on the Dax, adding 3.67 percent to €93.80, while utility EDF (Euronext: EEN) turned in the best performance on the CAC-40 with a gain of 2.86 percent to €72.56.

The steel sector saw gains.

ThyssenKrupp (FWB: TKA; NYSE: THK) was up 0.82 percent to €44.43, while Mittal Steel (Euronext: MT; NYSE: MT) was 1.53 percent higher to €54.95 and steel products manufacturer Vallourec (Euronext: VK) gained 1.04 percent to €203.83.

Carmakers were also higher.

Renault (Euronext: RNO) was up 1.03 percent to €101.03, while BMW (FWB: BMW) added 3.64 percent to €37.03.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was 1.02 percent higher to 6,363.9 as European markets made gains on Thursday.

Madrid’s IBEX gained 0.7 percent to 14,077.8, the Dax added 0.84 percent to 7,535.97, and the Paris CAC-40 was up 1.05 percent to 5,565.97.

Steel-related shares were higher.

ThyssenKrupp (FWB: TKA; LSE: THK) gained 1.97 percent to €40.87, while Mittal Steel (Euronext: MT; NYSE: MT) was up 4.6 percent to €48.20.

ThyssenKrupp’s gains came after it said it has won a new elevators contract in London and after ABN Amro (Euronext: AAB; NYSE: ABN) raised the steel-maker’s target share price.

Meanwhile, steel products manufacturer Vallourec was the best performer on the CAC-40 as it added 4.82 percent to €191.26.

Utilities were higher.

RWE (FWB: RWE) was 1.37 percent higher to €81.73, while EDF (Euronext: EEN) gained 1.54 percent to €72.40.

In the media sector, Vivendi (Euronext: VIV) was up 2.17 to €29.70 and Lagardere (Euronext: MMB) added 4.65 percent to €60.31.

The best performance on the day on the Dax came from stock exchange operator Deutsche Boerse (FWB: DB1) which gained 3.33 percent to €81.07 after it said it would not buy into the London Stock Exchange.

On the negative side of the ledger, financial planner MLP (FWB: MLP) had the worst day on the Dax with a decline of 1.42 percent to €11.09.

The worst performance on the CAC-40 came from telecommunications group Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext: ALU; NYSE: ALU; TYO: 6687), which dropped 8.69 percent to €6.62.

Carmakers saw declines, with Peugeot (Euronext: UG; OTC: PEUGY) falling 0.75 percent to €55.70 and BMW (FWB: BMW) down 0.97 percent to €34.75.

The semiconductors sector was also lower.

Infineon (FWB: IFX; NYSE: IFX) dropped 0.42 percent to €11.76, while STMicroelectronics (Euronext: STM; NYSE: STM) was 2.98 percent lower to €12.06.

European markets were higher Wednesday.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 added 0.22 percent to 1,510.28.

Madrid’s IBEX was 0.11 percent higher to 13,980.4, while the Dax gained 0.2 percent to 7,472.99 and the CAC-40 was up 0.53 percent to 5,508.01.

The best performer on the CAC-40 was media and construction conglomerate Bouygues (Euronext: EN) with a gain of 4.21 percent to €59.45 on possible interest from an Egyptian telecommunications company and possible contracts news.

Healthcare group Fresenius Medical Care (FWB: FREG) had the best day on the Dax as it added 3.2 percent to €37.28.

Other gainers included property developer and investor Unibail (Euronext: UL), which was 1.87 percent higher to €174.18.

Foods manufacturer Groupe Danone (Euronext: BN; NYSE: DA) was up 1.65 percent to €55.37.

Truck maker Man (FWB: EDF1) advanced 1.68 percent to €102.04, but carmakers did not do as well.

Peugeot (Euronext UG; OTC: PEUGY) fell 0.76 percent to €56.12, while BMW (FWB: BMW) was down 1.57 percent to €34.82.

Utilities were mixed on the session.

Eon (FWB: EOA; LSE: EON; NYSE: EON) was up 1.91 percent to €123.76, but Gaz de France (Euronext: GAZ) dropped 0.56 percent to €33.46.

Banks were also mixed.

BNP Paribas (Euronext: BNP; TYO: 8665) added 0.9 percent to €74.18 but Commerzbank (FWB: CBK) was 1.12 percent lower to €28.10.

The semiconductors sector was down on the session.

STMicroelectronics (Euronext: STM; NYSE: STM) fell 0.8 percent to €12.43, while Infineon (FWB: IFX; NYSE: IFX) was down 1.83 percent to €11.84.

Airlines were the biggest losers on both the Dax and the CAC-40.

Lufthansa (FWB: LHA) dropped 3.45 percent to €19.84 and Air France (Euronext: AF; NYSE: AKH) was 3.35 percent lower to €26.80.

Most European markets were higher on the session after the European Central Bank voted to keep interest rates at 4 percent.

Madrid’s IBEX, however, dropped 0.29 percent to 14,198.4.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was 0.17 percent higher to 1,525.2.

In Frankfurt, the Dax added 0.44 percent to 7,621.72, while the CAC-40 was up 0.45 percent to 5,576.62 in Paris.

The best performer on the day on the CAC-40 was in the oil sector, where Total (Euronext: FP; NYSE: TOT) gained 1.75 percent to €55.69.

The first spot on the Dax went to Infineon (FWB: IFX; NYSE: IFX), which was 5.03 percent higher to €12.10.

Also in the semiconductors sector, STMicroelectronics (Euronext: STM; NYSE: STM) was up 1.33 percent to €12.96.

Utilities were mixed.

While Suez (Euronext: SZE; NYSE: SZE) added 0.83 percent to €39.08, Gaz de France (Euronext: GAZ) was 0.83 percent lower to €34.02.

The steel sector was also mixed on the session.

Mittal Steel (Euronext: NT; NYSE: MT) was up 0.86 percent to €48.03, but ThyssenKrupp (FWB: TKA; LSE: THK) dropped 0.31 percent to €41.70.

Meanwhile, steel products manufacturer Vallourec (Euronext: VK) was also lower as it fell 0.97 percent to €189.21.

The biggest loser on the day on the Dax was sportswear and sporting goods group Adidas-Salomon (FWB: ADS), which dropped 0.78 percent to €42.97.

The worst performance on the CAC-40 came from manufacturer Saint-Gobain (Euronext: SGO), with a decline of 1.3 percent to €75.42.

European markets were higher again Friday, helped by talk of a plan to allow the US Federal Housing Authority to guarantee loans for delinquent subprime mortgage holders so that they can refinance their loans at better rates and avoid foreclosure, on the theory that the plan will help relieve chaos in the mortgage marked and improve consumer confidence.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up 1.12 percent to 1,532.34. Madrid’s IBEX added 1.16 percent to 14,479.8, while the CAC-40 gained 1.25 percent to 5,662.7 and the Dax was 1.57 percent higher to 7,638.17.

In the retail sector, luxury goods group PPR (Euronext: PPR) had the best day on the CAC-40 as it added 4.14 percent to €126.90.

The top spot on the Dax, meanwhile, was taken by chipmaker Infineon (FWB: IFX; NYSE: IFX), which gained 3.72 percent to €11.44 after US computer maker Dell (NAS: DELL; SEHK: 4331) reported strong results.

Other gainers included engineering group Siemens (FWB: SIE; NYSE: SI), which was 2.47 percent higher to €91.93.

Utilities were mixed.

Suez (Eurofirst: SZE; NYSE: SZE) added 1.8 percent to €41.74, while Eon (FWB: EOA; LSE: EON; NYSE: EON) gained 2.48 percent to €123.17 and Gaz de France (Euronext: GAZ) was up 3.95 percent to €36.80.

On the other hand, EDF (Euronext: EEN) was 0.75 percent lower to €74.12.

There were only two other losers on the CAC-40 on the session.

Retailer Carrefour (Euronext: CA) fell 1.5 percent to €51.37, while media group Vivendi (Euronext: VIV) had the worst day on the CAC-40 with a decline of 1.74 percent to €30.01 on slow earnings growth.

Retailer Metro (FWB: MEO) was the worst performer on the Dax with a delcine of 1.01 percent to €63.44.

European equities markets were higher on the session.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 added 1.15 percent to 1,515.76.

In Madrid, the IBEX gained 0.92 percent to 14,313.4, while the Dax was up 1.09 percent to 7,519.94 in Frankfurt and the Paris CAC-40 was 1.31 percent higher to 5,592.53.

Utilities were up in Paris, with Suez (Euronet: SZE; NYSE: SZE) gaining 5.32 percent to €41 for the best performance on the CAC-40.

Gaz de France (Euronext: GAZ) was right behind, adding 3.84 percent to €35.40.

On the other hand, power generator and manufacturer Alstom (Euronext: ALO) dropped 0.05 percent to €128.96.

The best performance on the Dax came from retailer Metro (FWB: MEO), which added 4.54 percent to €64.26.

The semiconductors sector was higher.

Infineon (FWB: IFX; NYSE: IFX) was up 2.9 percent to €11.02, while STMicroelectronics (Euronext: STM; NYSE: STM) was 3.72 percent higher to €12.65.

Industrial gases groups gained ground as well.

Air Liquide (Euronext AI) added 1.77 percent to €92.34 and Linde (FWB: LIN) gained 2.15 percent to €86.02.

Airlines were mixed.

Air France (Euronext: AF; NYSE: AKH) was up 2.7 percent to €29.71, but Lufthansa (FWB: LHA) fell 0.37 percent to €21.31. Banks were also mixed.

Credit Agricole (Euronext: ACA) gained 2.31 percent to €2.31 to €27.51, while Deutsche Bank (FWB: DBK; NYSE: DB) was 0.12 percent lower to €89.89.

Fresenius Medical Care (FWB: FREG) was the worst performer on the Dax, with a decline of 0.64 percent to €35.46.