Global shares rise as global economic outlook improves

European shares rose for a fourth consecutive session in thin volume today as strong Chinese data and results from SABMiller encouraged some investors to bet on a continuation of the recent bounce.

SABMiller was the top riser, adding 6.9 percent in volume three times the average after the world's second-biggest brewer reported strong growth in Africa and Latin America, which it expects to continue.

Heavyweight basic resources stocks were also well bid, up 0.7 percent, after a Chinese private manufacturing index hit a 13-month high, a sign that the pace of economic growth has revived in the world's largest consumer of metals.

He also flagged interest in UK oil major BG Group, up 1.2 percent to 1,230 pence, as the shares successfully rebounded from a two-year low of 990 pence but still looked cheap compared to a 1,350 pence price before the group issued a profit warning earlier this month.

They helped the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index index close 0.6 percent higher 1,103.43 points - up 3.4 percent since last Friday, the best weekly performance since February - albeit in low volume of 67 percent the average as Wall Street was shut for Thanksgiving Holiday.