European stocks close up

LONDON: Europe's main stock market indices closed up on Friday, with the London's FTSE 100 rising 0.23 per cent to 6,557.17
In Paris the CAC 40 added 0.17 per cent to 4,335.28 points, while the Dax 30 in Frankfurt climbed 0.50 per cent to 9,342.94 points.
London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index gained 0.02 per cent to stand at 6,543.87 points at around midday in the British capital.
The CAC 40 in Paris was also up 0.02 per cent to 4,328.80 points and Frankfurt’s DAX 30 gained 0.12 per cent to 9,307.59 compared with Thursday’s closing values.
In foreign exchange trade Friday, the euro rose to $1.3785 from $1.3778 late on Wednesday in New York.
On the London Bullion Market, the price of gold climbed to $1,337.80 an ounce from $1,327 on Thursday.
The dollar had risen strongly after Yellen’s hint about higher rates.
The euro also rose against the British pound on Friday, reaching 83.55 pence compared with 83.48 on Thursday. The pound dipped to $1.6499 from $1.6506.
Meanwhile: Asian stock markets closed higher Friday as bargain-hunters moved in after the previous session’s heavy losses, with investors taking a lead from Wall Street and a positive batch of US data.