CAC 40: 2133.22 (+17.87)

French shares ended higher, yesterday, buoyed by a surprise interest rate cut by the Bank of France but bumped up against technical resistance, dealers said.

The Paris market was also aided by Wall Street's good performance on Wednesday, traders said, and the dollar's firmness also helped.

Mibtel: 10,605 (+58)

Italian shares closed higher helped by the firmer trend to domestic bonds and the largely steady lira, and were supported by the sharp rise in a number of individual shares in generally routine trading.

Dealers said the main focus of attention earlier in the day was a press report that the government was planning to start the sell-off of a group of companies this year including Sirti, whose shares ended up 3.6 per cent.