LONDON, United Kingdom (Reuters):

Here is how major stock markets performed on Friday.

NEW YORK:

U.S. Stocks ended higher on Friday, pushing the Dow Jones industrial average to its fourth straight record close, helped by talk of potential takeovers and economic data that calmed inflation concerns.

Reports that Microsoft Corp may buy Yahoo Inc. boosted the Internet media company's shares 10 per cent and propelled the Nasdaq to its fifth straight week of gains, its longest-winning streak in nearly 18 months.

U.S. government data on Friday showed the economy last month added the smallest gain in jobs in more than two years.

The news calmed inflation concerns, but some analysts said it painted a worrying picture about the outlook for corporate profits.

The Dow Jones industrial average finished up 23.24 points, or 0.18 per cent, at 13,264.62 - its 19th record finish so far in 2007.

The Standard & Poor's 500 Index closed up 3.23 points, or 0.21 per cent, at 1,505.62.

The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 6.69 points, or 0.26 per cent, to end at 2,572.15.

During the session, the Dow climbed to an intraday record of 13,284.53 and the S&P extended its climb beyond the 1,500 level to its highest in more than six years.

The close marked the Dow's 41st record finish since the beginning of October and its 19th record close since the start of 2007.

For the week, the Dow rose 1.1 per cent, the S&P 500 gained 0.8 per cent and the Nasdaq rose 0.6 per cent.

LONDON:

Britain's top share index rose 1.01 per cent to a new closing high for the year, on mergers and acquisition activity, with Reuters' shares rising almost a third after the company said it had received a takeover approach.

The FTSE 100 ended up 65.9 points, or 1.01 per cent at 6,603.7, breaking through 6,600 as other European stock markets also rallied on M&A activity. The index gained 185 points since last Friday.

EUROPE:

European shares rallied to their highest close in more than six years as miners rose on the back of strong base-metal prices, while Reuters took pole position after receivinga takeover approach. Shares in news and financial data provider Reuters surged 25 per cent, with Canadian publisher Thomson widely touted as a suitor.

Reuters did not say who the bidder was and Thomson declined comment. Miners Anglo American and Rio Tinto advanced 3.9 and 4.7 per cent as base-metal prices firmed, while the sector was also supported by bullish broker notes.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index jumped 0.7 per cent to end at 1,593.9, its strongest level since December 2000, and clocking gains of 7.5 per cent so far this year amid a boom in takeovers which fuelled a 16 per cent rally last year.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index rose nearly 1.7 per cent this week, clocking gains for the third consecutive week.

FRANKFURT:

The DAX index ended at 7,516.76 points, up 40.07 or 0.54 per cent, rising 138.64 points over the week.

PARIS:

The CAC-40 index closed at 6,068.83 points, up 64.55 or 1.08 per cent, 138.06 points higher on the week.

ZURICH:

The Swiss market index closed at 9,455.47 points, up 62.42 or 0.66 per cent, up 35.57 points from a week ago.

MILAN:

The All Share Mibtel index closed at 34,090 points, up 221 or 0.65 per cent. The index added 198 points since last Friday.

TOKYO:

The Japanese stock markets were closed for a public holiday. On Wednesday the Nikkei closed up 119.94 points at 17,394.92. The index lost 5.49 points since April 27.