Properties groups BLND, LAND gain in London

Most European equities markets were higher Friday.

In London, the FTSE 100 was up 1.12 percent to 3,753.68 while the FTSE 250 was 1.66 percent higher to 6,162.54.

The real estate sector saw gains, led on the 100 by British Land (LSE: BLND) as it added 7.22 percent while Land Securities (LSE: LAND) gained 8.65 percent on the session.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 added 0.66 percent to 701.49 while the CAC-40 was up 0.42 percent to 2,705.63 and the IBEX gained 1.19 percent to 7,427.8 but the Dax dropped 0.07 percent to 3,953.6.

Most Asia-Pacific equities markets also saw gains.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 was up 5.15 percent to 7,569.28 while the Topix index added 3.33 percent to 724.3 and the Mothers market gained 1.95 percent to 285.43.

Elsewhere in the region, gains were also substantial as the Taiex added 3 percent to 4,897.39 while in Australia the Sydney Ordinaries gained 3.27 percent to 3,294.7 and the S&P/ASX200 was 3.39 percent higher to 3,345.2.

The Hang Seng was up 4.37 percent to 12,525.8, the Sensex added 4.95 percent to 8,756.61 and the Straits Times Index gained 5.62 percent to 1,577.52.

The Kospi, however, was down 0.21 percent to 1,126.03 and the Shanghai Composite dropped 0.24 percent to 2,128.85.

New York markets were mixed at just past 1:30 p.m. local time as the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.12 percent to 7,178.98 and the S&P 500 had added 0.15 percent to 751.85 but the Nasdaq Composite had dropped 0.2 percent to 1,423.3.

Crude oil and grains prices were lower, but metals prices saw gains.

The Swiss franc declined again as the Swiss National Bank continued to take steps to weaken the currency.

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