LONDON, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- European stock markets started 2007 by hitting their highest levels in almost six years Tuesday.
Major U.S. exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market, were closed to observe the death of former U.S. President Gerald Ford.
London's FTSE 100 index added 1.5 percent to its highest close since January 2001. British Airways led FTSE 100 gainers on takeover rumors.
In Frankfurt, the DAX Xetra 30 index gained 1.3 percent to 6,681.13 -- also a record high since January 2001. In Paris, the CAC 40 leaped 1.32 percent to 5,615.07 points, its best showing since May 2001.
Asian-Pacific markets closed up Tuesday, with the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index finishing 1.7 percent higher at 20,310, South Korea's Kospi Index gaining 0.1 percent to 1,435, Taipei ending 1.2 percent higher at 7,921 and Australia's Standard & Poor's/Australian Stock Exchange 200 advancing 0.01 percent to close at 5,670.
Markets were closed in Japan and mainland China.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's benchmark Standard & Poor's/TSX composite index closed up 15.27 points, or 0.1 percent, at 12,923.66.
The euro struck a near three-week high against the dollar and all-time peaks against the yen and Swiss franc in European trading.
