Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
BNP Paribas and Spain's BBVA rose 2.7 and 3.1 percent, respectively. A reading of US retail sales that beat forecasts helped support the broader market in afternoon trade as it suggested US consumer spending:- a key driver of economic growth:- was holding up better than expected in spite of record-high energy prices and the ongoing credit crunch. The FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.9 percent to 1,261.11 points, making this its first rise since June 3.