Pick of the early market news

Up, and up again. That was the story for most stock markets yesterday as bourses surged on news of cheaper borrowing expenses for France and Spain. Bank stocks leapt, with Barclays, Lloyds and RBS rising 10.07%, 9.06% and 8.94% respectively. Overnight, Asian markets on Friday all lifted on the European optimism with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average adding a 1.4% gain. The Dow Jones rose 0.36%.