European equities markets were lower Monday after a spokesman for the German government said a quick solution to the Eurozone debt crisis will not emerge from a meeting of European leaders scheduled for 23 October, after a plan for a solution was discussed over the weekend by G20 finance ministers and central bank leaders.

No details of the weekend discussions were released.

The FTSE 100 was down 0.54 percent to 5,436.7 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.85 percent to 10,250.4.

Oil explorer BP (LSE: BP) added 2.2 percent and lead gains on the 100 and in the energy sector after it said Texas-based Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE: APC), which owned a 25 percent stake in the Gulf of Mexico oil rig that exploded and spilled oil into the Gulf last year, will pay to settle all claims over the spill and will drop claims of gross negligence against BP.

BP was one of three energy sector constituents to place in the top five gainers on the 100, with engineer and consultancy to the energy industry AMEC (LSE: AMEC) up 1.74 percent while Essar Energy (LSE: ESSR) added 1.42 percent, but the worst performer in the oil sector was Heritage Oil (LSE: HOIL), with a decline of 4.11 percent.

Premier Foods (LSE: PFD) was the best performer on the 250, adding 6.33 percent in a mostly lower food and beverage sector.

Security specialist G4S (LSE: GFS) was the worst performer on the 100, dropping 22.1 percent after it said it will buy Danish facilities services company ISS, also announcing that it will pay for part of the deal with a £2 billion rights issue, while travel agent Thomas Cook Group (LSE: TCG) had the worst day on the 250 with a decline of 5.44 percent.

Most miners were lower, with the worst performance in the sector coming from Talvivaara Mining Company (LSE: TALV), which was down 4.76 percent, followed by a 4.74 percent decline for Allied Gold Mining (LSE: ALD), while Centamin Egypt (LSE: CEY) led five gainers in the sector as it added 3.67 percent.

Banks were mixed, with Standard Chartered (LSE: STAN) best as it added 0.74 percent, while Lloyds Banking Group (LSE: LLOY) dropped 2.5 percent for the worst performance in the sector.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was down 1.04 percent to 965.38 while the IBEX fell 1.24 percent to 8,864.3, the CAC-40 was 1.61 percent lower to 3,166.06 and the DAX dropped 1.81 percent to 5,859.43.

Markets in Asia and the Pacific region were mostly higher on fewer concerns about the Eurozone economy after a meeting of the G20 finance ministers in Paris over the weekend agreed to at least part of a plan to get a handle on the region’s debt crisis and ahead of a meeting of European leaders scheduled for 23 October to further consider the issue, before a German warning not to expect a quick end to the crisis.

The Nikkei 225 was up 1.5 percent to 8,879.6 in Tokyo, while the Topix index added 1.75 percent to 761.88 and the Mothers market gained 1.07 percent to 412.15.

Carmakers saw gains as Toyota Motor (TYO: 7203) added 2.9 percent and Honda Motor (TYO: 7267) was up 3.6 percent, while game maker Nintendo (TYO: 7974) gained 3.2 percent and consumer electronics manufacturer Sony (TYO: 6758) was 5 percent higher.

Camera and optics maker Olympus Corp (TYO: 7733), however, dropped 24 percent after a report commissioned by dismissed president Michael Woodford and conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers said there could be legal and regulatory inquiries into payments made to advisers in 2008, and after Mr. Woodford said his dismissal came because he had questioned those payments.

Elsewhere in the region, the Shanghai Composite was up 0.37 percent to 2,440.4, the Straits Times Index added 1.27 percent to 2,778.97 in Singapore, Taiwan’s Taiex was 1.4 percent higher to 7,461.12, Australia’s markets were up as the Sydney Ordinaries gained 1.61 percent to 4,337.9 and the S&P/ASX200 was up 1.66 percent to 4,275.4, the Kospi was 1.62 percent higher to 1,865.18 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 2.01 percent to 18,874.

India’s Sensex dropped 0.34 percent to 17,075.1.

New York equities markets were lower in midday trade, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 1.41 percent to 11,479.8 at just past 12:30 p.m. local time, while the S&P 500 had dropped 1.31 percent to 1,208.51 and the Nasdaq Composite was 1.6 percent lower to 2,625.15.

Crude oil prices were lower on Germany’s warning to not expect a quick end of the European debt crisis, with November contracts for West Texas Intermediate crude down 49 cents to $86.31 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude was recently reported down $1.43 to $110.80 per barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London.

Metals prices were also lower in New York, with December gold down $14.10 to $1,668.90 per troy ounce at around 12:20 p.m. local time, while Silver was 51 cents lower to $31.66 per troy ounce and copper had dropped 3 cents to $3.38 per pound.

European equities markets were higher Friday, with gains coming on hopes for a solution to the region’s debt crisis as the G20 finance ministers meet in Paris to discuss the crisis and a rescue plan that could cause holders of Greek bonds to take bigger losses.

The gains came despite the third credit rating cut in three years for Spain from Standard and Poor’s.

The FTSE 100 was up 1.17 percent to 5,466.36 in London, while the FTSE 250 added 1.06 percent to 10,338.5 as miners and oil companies saw gains on higher commodities prices.

The biggest gainers on both the 100 and the 250, however, were by investment managers, as Man Group (LSE: EMG) added 5.07 percent to lead winners on the 100, while Jupiter Fund Management (LSE: JUP) gained 9.04 percent as the best performer on the 250.

Ferrexpo (LSE: FXPO) was up 7.28 percent to lead gains in the mining sector after UBS raised its recommendation on the iron-ore miner, while copper miner Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) added 3.71 percent, while the five decliners in the sector were led by trader Glencore International (LSE: GLEN), which was down 3.03 percent and also led declines on the 100.

Hunting plc (LSE: HTG), which supplies the gas and oil industry, led gains in the energy sector as it added 5.41 percent Goldman Sachs imitated coverage with a “buy” recommendation, followed by a 4.71 percent gain for Tullow Oil (LSE: TLW), while the two decliners in the sector were led Salamander Energy (LSE: SMDR), which was 0.49 percent lower.

Most retailer were higher, but DIY retailer Home Retail Group (LSE: HOME) was the worst performer in the sector and on the 250 as it dropped 5.18 percent, while fellow DIY retailer Kingfisher (LSE: KGF) was down 1.07 percent.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up 0.84 percent to 974.46 while the IBEX added 0.36 percent to 8,975.5, the Dax was 0.89 percent higher to 5,967.2 and the CAC-40 gained 0.97 percent to 3,217.89.

Markets in the Asia-Pacific region were mixed, with more down than up after Standard and Poor’s cut Spain’s credit rating from AA to AA-minus, and after Fitch Ratings cut ratings on European banks UBS (SIX: UBSN), Lloyds Banking Group (LSE: LLOY) and Royal Bank of Scotland Group (LSE: RBS).

The Nikkei 225 was down 0.85 percent to 8,747.96 in Tokyo, while the Topix index was 1.32 percent lower to 748.81 and the Mothers market dropped 1.05 percent to 407.77.

Optics and camera maker Olympus Corp (TYO: 7733) was down 18 percent after President Michael Woodford was voted out by the company’s board and replaced with Chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa, while camera and copier maker Canon (TYO: 7751) dropped 2.6 percent on the possibility that it could move production of inkjet printers after two plants in Thailand closed due to flooding.

The flooding in Thailand also played a part in declines for Honda Motor (TYO: 7267), which was down 2.4 percent after output at its Malaysia plant had to be reduced after the floods interrupted its supply of parts, while Nissan Motors (TYO: 7201), which earns 15 percent of its revenues in Europe, dropped 1.7 percent on concerns about the state of the Eurozone economy.

The Shanghai Composite was down 0.3 percent to 2,431.38, Australia’s markets declined as the Sydney Ordinaries dropped 0.86 percent to 4,269 and the S&P/ASX200 was 0.92 percent lower to 4,205.6, Taiwan’s Taiex fell 0.95 to 7,358.08 and the Hang Seng was 1.36 percent lower to 18,501.8 in Hong Hong.

Gainers in the region included the Straits Times Index, which added 0.37 percent to 2,744.17 in Singapore while South Korea’s Kospi was up 0.67 percent to 1,835.4 and the Sensex gained 1.18 percent to 17,082.17 in India.

New York equities markets were up in midday trade, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average adding 0.75 percent to 11,564.6 while at the same time the S&P 500 was up 0.89 percent to 1,214.42 and the Nasdaq Composite was 0.86 percent higher to 2,642.76.

Crude oil prices were higher at 12:30 p.m. in New York as investors worried less about the possibility of a recession after the Commerce Department said that US consumers spent more as retail sales were up by 1.1 percent in September, with West Texas Intermediate crude up $2.48 to $86.71 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while at last report Brent crude was $3.29 higher to $114.40 per barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London.

Metals prices were also up at midday in New York as December gold added $6.30 to $1,674.80 per troy ounce, December silver was up 22 cents to $31.89 per troy ounce, December contracts for copper were 10 cents higher to $3.41 per pound and three-month contracts for copper gained $235 to $7,545 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange after going as high as $7,580.25 per tonne earlier.

European equities markets were lower Thursday after a warning from the European Central Bank, which said that making financial institutions that hold Greek bonds absorb more losses could imperil financial stability in the Eurozone, while markets were also hurt by data that exports from China were up 17.1 percent in September from last year, less of a gain than expected.

The FTSE 100 was down 0.71 percent to 5,403.38 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.87 percent to 10,230.5, despite top gains on both indices that were above 9 percent.

Rolls-Royce Group (LSE: RR) led gains on the 100, adding 9,9 percent after it said it will sell its 32.5 percent stake in jet-engine joint venture International Aero Engines to aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, which already owns a 32.5 percent stake in the venture, while Premier Foods (LSE: PFD) was up 9.94 percent as the food manufacturer recovered some of its recent declines.

Banks were lower, with Barclays (LSE: BARC) leading declines in the sector and on the 100 as it dropped 7.38 percent, while Royal Bank of Scotland Group (LSE: RBS) was down 6.39 percent and Lloyds Banking Group (LSE: LLOY) was 5.48 percent lower after Fitch Ratings cut its ratings on Lloyds and RBS from A to AA-minus.

Engineering group Renishaw (LSE: RSW) was the worst performer on the 250 as it dropped 16.15 percent.

Assets managers had a hard time of it after Ashmore Group (LSE: ASHM) said that the assets under its management were down 10.5 percent in the quarter ending 30 September, with Man Group (LSE: EMG) down 4.03 percent while Ashmore dropped 4.04 percent and F&C Asset Management (LSE: FCAM) was 6.15 percent lower.

Miners were lower after metals prices declined on the news regarding exports from China, with Aquarius Platinum (LSE: AQP) down 7.17 percent to lead the sector lower, while Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) dropped 6.34 percent and Kazakymys (LSE: KAZ) was 5.74 percent lower, although trader Glencore International (LSE: GLEN) added 2.41 percent as the best performer of three gainers in the sector.

Restaurants and pubs operator Mitchells and Butlers (LSE: MAB) dropped 6.89 percent for the worst performance in a mixed travel and leisure sector after Piedmont Inc, which already owns 23 percent of MAB’s All Bar One chain, said it won’t go forward with an offer for the company.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was down 1.27 percent to 964.58 while the IBEX was 0.92 percent lower to 8,943.5 and the Dax and the CAC-40 each dropped 1.33 percent, to 5,914.84 and 3,186.94 respectively.

Markets in Asia and the Pacific region were mostly higher on optimism that leaders in Europe are close to a plan to handle the debt crisis there, and after the US Federal Reserve said in the minutes of its most recent meeting that it is still thinking about further asset purchases to help the US economy.

The Nikkei 225 was up 0.97 percent to 8,823.25 in Tokyo, while the Topix index added 0.72 percent to 758.83 and the Mothers market gained 0.67 percent to 412.09, with factory equipment makers up on new data showing that machine tool orders were up 20 percent in September compared to the same month last year.

Industrial robot manufacturer Fanuc (TYO: 6954) was up 3.4 percent while Tsudakoma Corp (TYO: 6217), which makes machines to manufacture textiles, added 6 percent and lathe-maker Tsugami Corp (TYO: 6101) gained 9.9 percent.

Semiconductor-related shares saw gains on positive news from European chip-making equipment manufacturer ASML Holding (Euronext: ASML) issued a positive quarterly report and said that it expects more orders in the fourth quarter, with Tokyo Electron (TYO: 8035) up 1.4 percent while wafer-maker SUMCO Corp (TYO: 3456) added 1.9 percent, Elpida Memory (TYO: 6665) was 4 percent higher and Advantest (TYO: 6857) gained 5.6 percent.

Other gainers in the region included Taiwan’s Taiex, which was up 0.62 percent to 7,428.33, while the Kospi added 0.75 percent to 1,823.1 in South Korea, the Shanghai Composite gained 0.78 percent to 2,438.79, Australia’s markets were up as the Sydney Ordinaries added 0.93 percent to 4,306 and the S&P/ASX200 was up 0.96 percent to 4,244.5, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was 2.34 percent higher to 18,757.8.

The Straits Times Index was 0.14 percent lower to 2,733.97 in Singapore, while India’s Sensex dropped 0.44 percent to 16,883.9.

New York equities markets were lower at just past 12:30 p.m. local time, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 1.07 percent to 11,395.3 while the S&P 500 had dropped 1.23 percent to 1,192.42 and the Nasdaq Composite was 0.34 percent lower to 2,595.85.

Crude oil prices were lower after the US Energy Information Administration said that crude oil stockpiles in the US were up by 1.3 million barrels last week against an expected decline, although gasoline and distillates in storage dropped by 4.1 million barrels and 2.9 million barrels respectively.

November contracts for West Texas Intermediate crude was down $1.55 to $84.02 per barrel in midday trade on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while the latest reports showed Brent crude down $1.06 to $110.30 per barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London.

Metals prices were also lower at midday in New York, with December gold down $18.90 to $1,663.70 per troy ounce while December silver was $1.13 lower to $31.66 per troy ounce and December copper had dropped 8 cents to $3.31 per pound.

European equities markets were higher Wednesday after both the European Commission President and the European Union’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner said that banks need to be shored up as part of the answer to solving the Eurozone’s debt crisis, but gains came only after earlier declines on a delay in Slovakia’s approval of a Eurozone bailout fund after a vote on the issue failed Tuesday.

The FTSE 100 added 0.85 percent to 5,441.8 in London, while the FTSE 250 was up 1.62 percent to 10,320.

Miners were higher as copper prices rose on declining inventories that indicated demand is up, with iron-ore miner Ferrexpo (LSE: FXPO) turning in the best performance in the sector as it added 7.91, while Eurasian Natural Resources (LSE: ENRC) was the best performer on the 100 as it gained 7.44 percent, with Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) and Kazakhmys (LSE: KAZ) also among the top five gainers on the 100, adding 6.87 percent and 5.49 percent respectively.

Online gambler Betfair Group (LSE: BET) led gains on the 250, adding 8.48 percent, but two other gamblers were the only two decliners in the travel and leisure sector as casinos and online gambling operator Rank Group (LSE: RNK) was down 0.48 percent and online gambler Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (LSE: BPTY) dropped 0.09 percent.

Man Group (LSE: EMG) dropped the most on the 100 as the investment managers were down 5.96 percent, while the worst performance on the 250 came from food manufacturer Premier Foods (LSE: PFD), which dropped 19.98 percent in a mostly higher sector, although brewer SABMiller (LSE: SAB) declined 0.72 percent and food processor Tate & Lyle (LSE: TATE) was down 0.24 percent.

The energy sector was mostly higher, led by a 7.78 percent gain for oil and natural gas explorer and producer Afren (AFR), but the five decliners in the sector were led by Lamprell (LSE: LAM) after the oil rig builder and refurbisher dropped 14.96 percent.

Banks and insurers were both higher as Barclays (LSE: BARC) led banks as it added 6.53 percent and Amlin (LSE: AML) was the best performer among insurers, gaining 7.95 percent.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up 1.5 percent to 975.81 while the IBEX added 2.05 percent to 9,026.5, the Dax was 2.21 percent higher to 5,994.47 and the CAC-40 gained 2.42 percent to 3,229.76.

Markets in Asia and the Pacific region were mixed, with gains for some coming on the possibility that China could be poised to help equities markets there after a state-owned investor bought shares of the nation’s biggest banks recently, causing speculation that stocks are undervalued in China.

But Japan’s markets were mostly lower after US aluminium producer Alcoa (NYSE: AA) reported earnings below analyst predictions on higher production costs and slower demand growth, with the Nikkei 225 down 0.4 percent to 8,738.9 while the Topix index was 0.21 percent lower to 753.44 but the Mothers market managed to add 0.68 percent to 409.35.

Several companies saw declines after flooding in Thailand interrupted production there, including a 2.2 percent drop for Honda Motor (TYO: 7267), while camera maker Nikon (TYO: 7731) was down 3.5 percent and chemical engineering specialist Showa Denko (TYO: 4004) was 5.1 percent lower.

Game maker Nintendo (TYO: 7974), which gets 40 percent of its sales in the America, was down 2.5 percent.

Shippers were higher after cargo rates went up.

Along with Tokyo’s markets, Taiwan’s Taiex was down 0.22 percent to 7,382.35 and Australia’s markets declined, with the Sydney Ordinaries dropping 0.52 percent to 4,266.4 while the S&P/ASX200 was 0.55 percent lower to 4,204.3, but the Kospi was up 0.81 percent to 1,809.5 in South Korea, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 1.04 percent to 18,329.5, Singapore’s Straits Times Index was 1.66 percent higher to 2,737.75, the Sensex was up 2.55 percent to 16,958.4 in India, and the Shanghai Composite gained 3.04 percent to 2.420.

New York equities markets were up in midday trade as the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1.12 percent to 11,544.3 while at the same time the S&P 500 was up 1.45 percent to 1,212.82 and the Nasdaq Composite was 1.26 percent higher to 2,615.68.

Crude oil prices were mixed at just before 12:30 p.m. in New York as November contracts for West Texas Intermediate crude were down 15 cents to $85.66 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, but Brent crude was recently reported up 94 cents to $111.67 per barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London.

The US Energy Information Administration’s weekly US inventories report was delayed until Thursday due to Monday’s Columbus Day holiday, while both the International Energy Agency and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries cut their oil demand forecasts.

Metals prices were higher in New York trade, with December gold up $15.40 to $1,676.40 per troy ounce in midday trade while December silver added 50 cents to $32.50 per troy ounce and December copper had gained 10 cents to $3.39 per pound in New York while three-month copper was up $239 to $7,529 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange.

Copper prices were helped higher by a weaker US dollar and LME-monitored inventories dropped 1,525 tonnes while Shanghai inventories were also reported to be lower.

European equities markets were higher Wednesday after both the European Commission President and the European Union’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner said that banks need to be shored up as part of the answer to solving the Eurozone’s debt crisis, but gains came only after earlier declines on a delay in Slovakia’s approval of a Eurozone bailout fund after a vote on the issue failed Tuesday.

The FTSE 100 added 0.85 percent to 5,441.8 in London, while the FTSE 250 was up 1.62 percent to 10,320.

Miners were higher as copper prices rose on declining inventories that indicated demand is up, with iron-ore miner Ferrexpo (LSE: FXPO) turning in the best performance in the sector as it added 7.91, while Eurasian Natural Resources (LSE: ENRC) was the best performer on the 100 as it gained 7.44 percent, with Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) and Kazakhmys (LSE: KAZ) also among the top five gainers on the 100, adding 6.87 percent and 5.49 percent respectively.

Online gambler Betfair Group (LSE: BET) led gains on the 250, adding 8.48 percent, but two other gamblers were the only two decliners in the travel and leisure sector as casinos and online gambling operator Rank Group (LSE: RNK) was down 0.48 percent and online gambler Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (LSE: BPTY) dropped 0.09 percent.

Man Group (LSE: EMG) dropped the most on the 100 as the investment managers were down 5.96 percent, while the worst performance on the 250 came from food manufacturer Premier Foods (LSE: PFD), which dropped 19.98 percent in a mostly higher sector, although brewer SABMiller (LSE: SAB) declined 0.72 percent and food processor Tate & Lyle (LSE: TATE) was down 0.24 percent.

The energy sector was mostly higher, led by a 7.78 percent gain for oil and natural gas explorer and producer Afren (AFR), but the five decliners in the sector were led by Lamprell (LSE: LAM) after the oil rig builder and refurbisher dropped 14.96 percent.

Banks and insurers were both higher as Barclays (LSE: BARC) led banks as it added 6.53 percent and Amlin (LSE: AML) was the best performer among insurers, gaining 7.95 percent.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up 1.5 percent to 975.81 while the IBEX added 2.05 percent to 9,026.5, the Dax was 2.21 percent higher to 5,994.47 and the CAC-40 gained 2.42 percent to 3,229.76.

Markets in Asia and the Pacific region were mixed, with gains for some coming on the possibility that China could be poised to help equities markets there after a state-owned investor bought shares of the nation’s biggest banks recently, causing speculation that stocks are undervalued in China.

But Japan’s markets were mostly lower after US aluminium producer Alcoa (NYSE: AA) reported earnings below analyst predictions on higher production costs and slower demand growth, with the Nikkei 225 down 0.4 percent to 8,738.9 while the Topix index was 0.21 percent lower to 753.44 but the Mothers market managed to add 0.68 percent to 409.35.

Several companies saw declines after flooding in Thailand interrupted production there, including a 2.2 percent drop for Honda Motor (TYO: 7267), while camera maker Nikon (TYO: 7731) was down 3.5 percent and chemical engineering specialist Showa Denko (TYO: 4004) was 5.1 percent lower.

Game maker Nintendo (TYO: 7974), which gets 40 percent of its sales in the America, was down 2.5 percent.

Shippers were higher after cargo rates went up.

Along with Tokyo’s markets, Taiwan’s Taiex was down 0.22 percent to 7,382.35 and Australia’s markets declined, with the Sydney Ordinaries dropping 0.52 percent to 4,266.4 while the S&P/ASX200 was 0.55 percent lower to 4,204.3, but the Kospi was up 0.81 percent to 1,809.5 in South Korea, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 1.04 percent to 18,329.5, Singapore’s Straits Times Index was 1.66 percent higher to 2,737.75, the Sensex was up 2.55 percent to 16,958.4 in India, and the Shanghai Composite gained 3.04 percent to 2.420.

New York equities markets were up in midday trade as the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1.12 percent to 11,544.3 while at the same time the S&P 500 was up 1.45 percent to 1,212.82 and the Nasdaq Composite was 1.26 percent higher to 2,615.68.

Crude oil prices were mixed at just before 12:30 p.m. in New York as November contracts for West Texas Intermediate crude were down 15 cents to $85.66 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, but Brent crude was recently reported up 94 cents to $111.67 per barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London.

The US Energy Information Administration’s weekly US inventories report was delayed until Thursday due to Monday’s Columbus Day holiday, while both the International Energy Agency and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries cut their oil demand forecasts.

Metals prices were higher in New York trade, with December gold up $15.40 to $1,676.40 per troy ounce in midday trade while December silver added 50 cents to $32.50 per troy ounce and December copper had gained 10 cents to $3.39 per pound in New York while three-month copper was up $239 to $7,529 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange.

Copper prices were helped higher by a weaker US dollar and LME-monitored inventories dropped 1,525 tonnes while Shanghai inventories were also reported to be lower.

European equities markets were higher Wednesday after both the European Commission President and the European Union’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner said that banks need to be shored up as part of the answer to solving the Eurozone’s debt crisis, but gains came only after earlier declines on a delay in Slovakia’s approval of a Eurozone bailout fund after a vote on the issue failed Tuesday.

The FTSE 100 added 0.85 percent to 5,441.8 in London, while the FTSE 250 was up 1.62 percent to 10,320.

Miners were higher as copper prices rose on declining inventories that indicated demand is up, with iron-ore miner Ferrexpo (LSE: FXPO) turning in the best performance in the sector as it added 7.91, while Eurasian Natural Resources (LSE: ENRC) was the best performer on the 100 as it gained 7.44 percent, with Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) and Kazakhmys (LSE: KAZ) also among the top five gainers on the 100, adding 6.87 percent and 5.49 percent respectively.

Online gambler Betfair Group (LSE: BET) led gains on the 250, adding 8.48 percent, but two other gamblers were the only two decliners in the travel and leisure sector as casinos and online gambling operator Rank Group (LSE: RNK) was down 0.48 percent and online gambler Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (LSE: BPTY) dropped 0.09 percent.

Man Group (LSE: EMG) dropped the most on the 100 as the investment managers were down 5.96 percent, while the worst performance on the 250 came from food manufacturer Premier Foods (LSE: PFD), which dropped 19.98 percent in a mostly higher sector, although brewer SABMiller (LSE: SAB) declined 0.72 percent and food processor Tate & Lyle (LSE: TATE) was down 0.24 percent.

The energy sector was mostly higher, led by a 7.78 percent gain for oil and natural gas explorer and producer Afren (AFR), but the five decliners in the sector were led by Lamprell (LSE: LAM) after the oil rig builder and refurbisher dropped 14.96 percent.

Banks and insurers were both higher as Barclays (LSE: BARC) led banks as it added 6.53 percent and Amlin (LSE: AML) was the best performer among insurers, gaining 7.95 percent.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up 1.5 percent to 975.81 while the IBEX added 2.05 percent to 9,026.5, the Dax was 2.21 percent higher to 5,994.47 and the CAC-40 gained 2.42 percent to 3,229.76.

Markets in Asia and the Pacific region were mixed, with gains for some coming on the possibility that China could be poised to help equities markets there after a state-owned investor bought shares of the nation’s biggest banks recently, causing speculation that stocks are undervalued in China.

But Japan’s markets were mostly lower after US aluminium producer Alcoa (NYSE: AA) reported earnings below analyst predictions on higher production costs and slower demand growth, with the Nikkei 225 down 0.4 percent to 8,738.9 while the Topix index was 0.21 percent lower to 753.44 but the Mothers market managed to add 0.68 percent to 409.35.

Several companies saw declines after flooding in Thailand interrupted production there, including a 2.2 percent drop for Honda Motor (TYO: 7267), while camera maker Nikon (TYO: 7731) was down 3.5 percent and chemical engineering specialist Showa Denko (TYO: 4004) was 5.1 percent lower.

Game maker Nintendo (TYO: 7974), which gets 40 percent of its sales in the America, was down 2.5 percent.

Shippers were higher after cargo rates went up.

Along with Tokyo’s markets, Taiwan’s Taiex was down 0.22 percent to 7,382.35 and Australia’s markets declined, with the Sydney Ordinaries dropping 0.52 percent to 4,266.4 while the S&P/ASX200 was 0.55 percent lower to 4,204.3, but the Kospi was up 0.81 percent to 1,809.5 in South Korea, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 1.04 percent to 18,329.5, Singapore’s Straits Times Index was 1.66 percent higher to 2,737.75, the Sensex was up 2.55 percent to 16,958.4 in India, and the Shanghai Composite gained 3.04 percent to 2.420.

New York equities markets were up in midday trade as the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1.12 percent to 11,544.3 while at the same time the S&P 500 was up 1.45 percent to 1,212.82 and the Nasdaq Composite was 1.26 percent higher to 2,615.68.

Crude oil prices were mixed at just before 12:30 p.m. in New York as November contracts for West Texas Intermediate crude were down 15 cents to $85.66 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, but Brent crude was recently reported up 94 cents to $111.67 per barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London.

The US Energy Information Administration’s weekly US inventories report was delayed until Thursday due to Monday’s Columbus Day holiday, while both the International Energy Agency and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries cut their oil demand forecasts.

Metals prices were higher in New York trade, with December gold up $15.40 to $1,676.40 per troy ounce in midday trade while December silver added 50 cents to $32.50 per troy ounce and December copper had gained 10 cents to $3.39 per pound in New York while three-month copper was up $239 to $7,529 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange.

Copper prices were helped higher by a weaker US dollar and LME-monitored inventories dropped 1,525 tonnes while Shanghai inventories were also reported to be lower.

European equities markets were higher Wednesday after both the European Commission President and the European Union’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner said that banks need to be shored up as part of the answer to solving the Eurozone’s debt crisis, but gains came only after earlier declines on a delay in Slovakia’s approval of a Eurozone bailout fund after a vote on the issue failed Tuesday.

The FTSE 100 added 0.85 percent to 5,441.8 in London, while the FTSE 250 was up 1.62 percent to 10,320.

Miners were higher as copper prices rose on declining inventories that indicated demand is up, with iron-ore miner Ferrexpo (LSE: FXPO) turning in the best performance in the sector as it added 7.91, while Eurasian Natural Resources (LSE: ENRC) was the best performer on the 100 as it gained 7.44 percent, with Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) and Kazakhmys (LSE: KAZ) also among the top five gainers on the 100, adding 6.87 percent and 5.49 percent respectively.

Online gambler Betfair Group (LSE: BET) led gains on the 250, adding 8.48 percent, but two other gamblers were the only two decliners in the travel and leisure sector as casinos and online gambling operator Rank Group (LSE: RNK) was down 0.48 percent and online gambler Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (LSE: BPTY) dropped 0.09 percent.

Man Group (LSE: EMG) dropped the most on the 100 as the investment managers were down 5.96 percent, while the worst performance on the 250 came from food manufacturer Premier Foods (LSE: PFD), which dropped 19.98 percent in a mostly higher sector, although brewer SABMiller (LSE: SAB) declined 0.72 percent and food processor Tate & Lyle (LSE: TATE) was down 0.24 percent.

The energy sector was mostly higher, led by a 7.78 percent gain for oil and natural gas explorer and producer Afren (AFR), but the five decliners in the sector were led by Lamprell (LSE: LAM) after the oil rig builder and refurbisher dropped 14.96 percent.

Banks and insurers were both higher as Barclays (LSE: BARC) led banks as it added 6.53 percent and Amlin (LSE: AML) was the best performer among insurers, gaining 7.95 percent.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up 1.5 percent to 975.81 while the IBEX added 2.05 percent to 9,026.5, the Dax was 2.21 percent higher to 5,994.47 and the CAC-40 gained 2.42 percent to 3,229.76.

Markets in Asia and the Pacific region were mixed, with gains for some coming on the possibility that China could be poised to help equities markets there after a state-owned investor bought shares of the nation’s biggest banks recently, causing speculation that stocks are undervalued in China.

But Japan’s markets were mostly lower after US aluminium producer Alcoa (NYSE: AA) reported earnings below analyst predictions on higher production costs and slower demand growth, with the Nikkei 225 down 0.4 percent to 8,738.9 while the Topix index was 0.21 percent lower to 753.44 but the Mothers market managed to add 0.68 percent to 409.35.

Several companies saw declines after flooding in Thailand interrupted production there, including a 2.2 percent drop for Honda Motor (TYO: 7267), while camera maker Nikon (TYO: 7731) was down 3.5 percent and chemical engineering specialist Showa Denko (TYO: 4004) was 5.1 percent lower.

Game maker Nintendo (TYO: 7974), which gets 40 percent of its sales in the America, was down 2.5 percent.

Shippers were higher after cargo rates went up.

Along with Tokyo’s markets, Taiwan’s Taiex was down 0.22 percent to 7,382.35 and Australia’s markets declined, with the Sydney Ordinaries dropping 0.52 percent to 4,266.4 while the S&P/ASX200 was 0.55 percent lower to 4,204.3, but the Kospi was up 0.81 percent to 1,809.5 in South Korea, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 1.04 percent to 18,329.5, Singapore’s Straits Times Index was 1.66 percent higher to 2,737.75, the Sensex was up 2.55 percent to 16,958.4 in India, and the Shanghai Composite gained 3.04 percent to 2.420.

New York equities markets were up in midday trade as the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1.12 percent to 11,544.3 while at the same time the S&P 500 was up 1.45 percent to 1,212.82 and the Nasdaq Composite was 1.26 percent higher to 2,615.68.

Crude oil prices were mixed at just before 12:30 p.m. in New York as November contracts for West Texas Intermediate crude were down 15 cents to $85.66 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, but Brent crude was recently reported up 94 cents to $111.67 per barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London.

The US Energy Information Administration’s weekly US inventories report was delayed until Thursday due to Monday’s Columbus Day holiday, while both the International Energy Agency and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries cut their oil demand forecasts.

Metals prices were higher in New York trade, with December gold up $15.40 to $1,676.40 per troy ounce in midday trade while December silver added 50 cents to $32.50 per troy ounce and December copper had gained 10 cents to $3.39 per pound in New York while three-month copper was up $239 to $7,529 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange.

Copper prices were helped higher by a weaker US dollar and LME-monitored inventories dropped 1,525 tonnes while Shanghai inventories were also reported to be lower.

Most equities markets in Europe were lower Tuesday as questions remained about whether Slovakia will ratify the newly revised Eurozone bailout fund in a vote scheduled for later in the day.

Slovakia is the only Eurozone nation that has not approved the new plan.

The FTSE 100 was down 0.06 percent to 5,395.7 in London, but the FTSE 250 added 0.14 percent to 10,155.1.

The retail sector was mostly higher, with gains in the sector and on the 250 led by Mothercare (LSE: MTC), as the specialist in products for expectant mothers and young children added 9.19 percent, while winners on the 100 were topped by aerospace and defense contractor BAE Systems (LSE: BA), which added 3.96 percent.

Banks were higher, with sector constituents making up three of the top five gainers on the 100, led by Royal Bank of Scotland Group (LSE: RBS) with a gain of 2.8 percent, followed by Barclays (LSE: BARC), which was up 2.09 percent while Standard Chartered (LSE: STAN) added 1.84 percent.

The food and beverage sector was mostly higher, but food manufacturer Premier Foods (LSE: PFD) dropped 7.09 percent to lead declines on the 250, while Associated British Foods (LSE: ABF) was down 2.37 percent.

Investment managers Man Group (LSE: EMG) had the worst day on the 100 as it dropped 2.75 percent.

The mining sector was mostly lower, with decliners led by Eurasian Natural Resources (LSE: ENRC), which was down 2.27 percent, but coal miner New World Resources (LSE: NWR) led the five gainers in the sector with a gain of 3.84 percent.

The energy sector was mixed as Exillon Energy (LSE: EXI) added 2.16 percent for the best performance in the sector, while oil rig builder and refurbisher Lamprell (LSE: LAM) dropped 4.1 percent as the sector’s worst performer.

CSR (LSE: CSR) was down 5.76 percent after Citigroup reduced its recommendation on the chipmaker from “neutral” to “sell”.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was down 0.47 percent to 959.32 while the CAC-40 was 0.25 percent lower to 3,153.52 and the IBEX dropped 0.53 percent to 8,845.5, but the Dax managed a gain of 0.3 percent to 5,865.01.

Greek banks were down significantly, with the four biggest lenders dropping between 16 percent and 20 percent each.

Markets in Asia and the Pacific region were mostly higher after Chinese lenders listed in Hong Kong saw gains after state-owned investor Central Huijin Investment Ltd bought shares in the nation’s four biggest national banks.

China Construction Bank (SEHK: 0939) was up 5.8 percent, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (SEHK: 1398) added 6.7 percent, Bank of China (SEHK: 3988) was 7.7 percent higher and Agricultural Bank of China (SEHK: 1288) gained 13 percent after the purchases were revealed.

Banks were also up in Tokyo, where the Nikkei 225 added 1.95 percent to 8,773.68 while the Topix index was 1.81 percent higher to 755 and the Mothers market gained 2.45 percent to 406.57.

Mitsubishi UFJ (TYO: 8306) was up 2.4 percent, while Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (TYO: 8316) gained 2.7 percent.

Oil producers were also higher, seeing gains after yesterday’s higher oil prices, with Inpex (TYO: 1605) 3.6 percent higher while Japan Petroleum Exploration (TYO: 1662) was up 3.9 percent.

Elsewhere in the region, the Shanghai Composite was up 0.16 percent to 2,348.52 while Australia’s markets were higher as the Sydney Ordinaries added 0.62 percent to 4,288.8 and the S&P/ASX200 gained 0.63 percent to 4,227.6, Singapore’s Straits Times Index was 0.93 percent higher to 2,693.05, the Kospi was up 1.62 percent to 1,795.02 in South Korea, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 2.43 percent to 18,141.6 and the Taiex gained 2.59 percent to 7,398.71 in Taiwan, but India’s Sensex was 0.13 percent lower to 16,536.5.

New York equities markets were mixed as the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.07 percent to 11,425.6 in midday trade but the S&P 500 was up 0.05 percent to 1,195.48 and the Nasdaq Composite had added 0.5 percent to 2,578.77.

Crude oil prices were up just before 12:30 p.m. in New York as November contracts for West Texas Intermediate crude added 64 cents to $86.05 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while at last report Brent crude was up $1.58 to $110.53 per barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London.

Metals prices were mixed in New York at midday as silver added 12 cents to $32.10 per troy ounce, but gold had dropped $5.80 to $1,665 per troy ounce and copper was down 7 cents to $3.30 per pound while three-month contracts for copper had dropped 3.1 percent to $7,261 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange on demand concerns.

Equities markets in Europe were higher Monday, with gains coming on a promise by Germany’s chancellor and France’s president that they will create a plan to recapitalize banks and find solutions to the region’s debt crisis as they said they will have the plan worked out by a G20 summit scheduled for 3 November.

The FTSE 100 was up 1.8 percent to 5,399 in London, while the FTSE 250 added 1.84 percent to 10,140.8 as chipmaker ARM Holdings (LSE: ARM) gained 6.58 percent to lead gains on the 100 and oil explorer and producer EnQuest (LSE: ENQ) was 8.61 percent higher as the best performer on the 250.

Other gainers in the mostly higher energy sector included Essar Energy (LSE: ESSR), which was up 4.71 percent and Premier Oil (LSE: PMO) with a gain of 3.3 percent after it said it began production at a project in Vietnam and after HSBC Holdings, Morgan Stanley and UBS all issued upgrades for the oil producer, while the worst of three decliners in the sector was wind turbine gearbox manufacturer Hansen Transmissions International (LSE: HSN), which was down 2.87 percent.

Miners were up, led by a gain of 5.35 percent for gold miner Petropavlovsk (LSE: POG), while the only decliner in the sector was African Barrick Gold, which was down by 1.12 percent.

Catering specialist Compass Group (LSE: CPG) was the worst performer on the 100, dropping 1.21 percent, and was one of just three decliners in the travel and leisure sector, where Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (LSE: BPTY) and Ladbrokes (LSE: LAD) were 2.12 percent and 0.75 percent lower respectively, while International Consolidated Airlines Group (LSE: IAG) was the best performer in the travel and leisure sector as it added 3.68 percent.

Premier Foods (LSE: PMO) was the biggest decliner on the 250 and was down 12.24 percent and was also the worst performer in the food and beverage sector, while brewer SABMiller (LSE: SAB) added 2.41 percent as the best performer in the sector.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up 1.6 percent to 962.8 while the IBEX added 1.07 percent to 8,892.4, the CAC-40 was 2.13 percent to 3,161.47 and the Dax gained 3.02 percent to 5,847.29.

Most markets in the Asia-Pacific region saw gains on optimism regarding the European debt crisis after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy said over the weekend that they would work to stabilize the European economy, althought they did not give any details of their plan.

The Hang Seng was up 0.02 percent to 17,711.1 in Hong Kong whle South Korea’s Kospi added 0.38 percent to 1,766.44, Australia’s markets were higher as the Sydney Ordinaries gained 0.88 percent to 4,262.3 and the S&P/ASX200 was 0.92 percent higher to 4,201, Singapore’s Straits Times Index was up 1.06 percent to 2,668.3 and the Sensex added 2 percent to 16,557.2.

The exception was the Shanghai Composite, which was 0.61 percent lower to 2,344.79 after going back to work following a week off for holidays.

Tokyo’s markets were closed in observance of Health and Sports Day, while markets in Taiwan were also closed, in observance of National Celebration Day.

New York equities markets saw gains in early afternoon trade as the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 2.46 percent to 11,376, while at the same time the S&P 500 had added 2.84 percent to 1,188.24 and the Nasdaq Composite was 2.99 percent to 2,553.5.

Crude oil and metals prices were higher as the US dollar weakened.

West Texas Intermediate crude was up $2.72 to $85.70 per barrel in midday trade on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent Crude added $2.93 percent to $108.81 per barrel at last report on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London.

Gold added $34.70 to $1,670.50 per troy ounce at nearly 1 p.m. in New York, while silver was up $1.10 to $32.10 per troy ounce.

Copper was 10 cents higher to $3.38 per pound in New York trade and three-month contracts for copper gained $120 to $7,495 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange, with the gains for copper coming on a decline in inventories of 4,575 tonnes in warehouses monitored by the LME and on hopes that demand will be helped if France and Germany can deliver on their promise of a plan to solve the region’s debt crisis.

European equities markets were higher in mid-afternoon trade Friday, helped by data from the US Labor Department that showed 103,000 jobs added to the US economy, more than expected, while the unemployment rate in the United States held steady at 9.1 percent.

The FTSE 100 was up 0.16 percent to 5,299.77 in London at mid-afternoon, while the FTSE 250 had added 0.32 percent to 9,920.08 as banks were mixed after Moody’s Investors Service cut ratings on 12 UK financial institutions, including both Royal Bank of Scotland Group (LSE: RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group (LSE: LLOY).

RBS was the worst performer on the 100, down 3.41 percent in afternoon trade, while Lloyd’s was right behind with a decline of 2.69 percent, but Standard Chartered (LSE: STAN) was up 1.51 percent at the same time.

Food manufacturer Premier Foods (LSE: PFD) was leading declines on the 250 as it fell 40.5 percent on third quarter earnings that were well below predictions and sales that were down 3.6 percent on the quarter.

Most miners were up, including a 4.31 percent gain at mid-afternoon for Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) which was at the top of the list of gainers on the 100, while African Barrick Gold (LSE: ABG) was up 5.33 percent but Talvivaara Mining Company (LSE: TALV) was down 22.08 percent.

Thomas Cook Group (LSE: TCG) was up 6.99 percent as the travel agent led gainers on the 250.

In the media sector, broadcasters were mixed as ITV (LSE: ITV) was up 3.8 percent but British Sky Broadcasting (LSE: BSY) had dropped 2.47 percent.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up 0.58 percent to 946.15 in mid-afternoon trade, while at the same time the CAC-40 had added 0.38 percent to 3,086.99, the Dax was 0.53 percent higher to 5,675.09 and the IBEX had gained 0.81 percent to 8,775.1.

Markets in Asia and the Pacific region saw gains.

The Nikkei 225 was up 0.98 percent to 8,605.62 in Tokyo while the Topix index added 0.64 percent to 741.55 and the Mothers market gained 1.31 percent to 396.85.

Mobile phone operators were higher, with KDDI Corp (TYO: 9433) up 1.4 percent while Softbank (TYO: 9984) added 6.5 percent.

Banks were up on efforts in Europe to keep banks there safe from the European debt crisis, with Mitsubishi UFJ (TYO: 8306) and Sumitomo Mitsui FG (TYO: 8316) each gaining 0.6 percent.

Industrial robot maker Fanuc (TYO: 6954), which makes 75 percent of its sales overseas, added 4.3 percent and carmakers were higher, with Mazda Motor (TYO: 7261) up 2.1 percent while Nissan Motors (TYO: 7201) gained 2.2 percent, but Sony (TYO: 6758) dropped 3.7 percent after Nomura Holdings cut its recommendation on the consumer electronics manufacturer from “buy” to “neutral”.

Taiwan’s Taiex was up 1.12 percent to 7,211.96, the Straits Times Index added 1.43 percent to 2,640.3 in Singapore, Australia’s markets were higher as the Sydney Ordinaries gained 2.25 percent to 4,225 and the S&P/ASX200 was 2.29 percent higher to 4,162.9, the Sensex was up 2.79 percent to 16,232.5 in India, South Korea’s Kospi added 2.89 percent to 1,759.77 and the Hang Seng gained 3.11 percent to 17,707.

China’s markets remained closed for holidays.

New York equities markets were mixed in late morning trade, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.37 percent to 11,164.5 at around 11 a.m., while at the same time the S&P 500 had dropped 0.12 percent to 1,163.59 and the Nasdaq Composite was 0.5 percent lower to 2,494.29.

Crude oil and metals prices were a bit higher on the good news on US jobs.

November contracts for West Texas Intermediate crude were 79 cents higher to $83.38 per barrel at just before 11 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude was most recently reported up 6 cents to $105.79 per barrel.

December gold had added $4.50 to $1,657.70 per troy ounce at late morning in New York, while December silver was up 45 cents to $32.46 per troy ounce and December copper had gained 8 cents to $3.32 per pound.