Europe: Stocks lifted by stronger commodity share prices

[LONDON] European shares rose on Thursday, boosted by a rise in the shares of commodity companies which climbed on the back of a further rebound in oil prices.

Britain's blue-chip FTSE 100 index rose 0.3 per cent. In continental Europe, Spain's IBEX advanced 0.7 per cent while France's CAC edged down 0.1 per cent.

Germany's DAX stock market was closed, while other markets were due to have a half-day for the Christmas holiday period.

Oil majors such as BP and Royal Dutch Shell climbed by around 1 per cent, as US crude prices rose for a fourth straight session.

REUTERS