The Dublin market closed the week on a high as events outside Ireland exercised the minds of many investors last week with reports of an imminent rate rise in the eurozone. According to Goodbody Stockbrokers, the only stock with dollar exposure worthy of note is AIB through its 24% shareholding in M and T Bank.

LONDON FTSE 100 6091.7 Up 1.1% on week UK stocks increased for a second day on Friday led by mining shares including Anglo American as gold reached a 25-year high and copper and zinc climbed to records.

Alliance & Leicester jumped after it was reported that Spain's Santander Central Hispano may buy the bank for more than £6.5bn pounds ( 9.4bn).

Vodafone advanced amid speculation it may seek to buy Vivendi's stake in their SFR wireless venture. Cable & Wireless gained after it was reported that O2 may acquire a UK internet service provider.

Anglo American advanced 3.2% to 2,476p.

Antofagasta, the London-based owner of copper mines in Chile, increased 3.6% to 2,544p.

EUROPE EuroStoxx 50 3577.11 Up 1.1% on week European stocks climbed to their highest since June 2001 as Deutsche Boerse's earnings and Vinci 's sales topped analysts' estimates. Speculation about acquisitions lifted shares of Alliance & Leicester and ProSiebenSat.1 Media. Insurers including Allianz gained before releasing earnings next week.

NEW YORK DOW 11577.74, up 1.9% on wk NASDAQ 2342.57, up 0.9% S&P 500 1325.76, up 1.2% US stocks surged, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average to its thirdhighest close ever, as a report showing that employers added fewer jobs than economists expected last month eased in"ation concerns. The Dow capped its longest weekly winning streak since January 2000.