Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
Pharmaceutical stocks gained on hopes that the demand for medicines and vaccines would rise. The new H1N1 strain is spreading around the world and 12 countries have so far reported cases of the flu, which has killed up to 176 people in Mexico. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 1.5 percent higher at 828.62 points after hitting its highest since mid-January.