European shares hit their highest levels in six years on Thursday, boosted by gains in oil firms and pharmaceuticals which helped the FTSE 100 index outperform, while global equities also rose on U.S. rate cut expectations.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 1.4 percent to 1,535.6, taking the year's gains so far to 3.5 percent after last year's 16 percent rally. U.S. stocks were also trading higher.
BHP Billiton added 3.5 percent and Anglo American rose 2.7 percent. AstraZeneca advanced 3.4 percent as it unveiled plans to cut 4.6 percent of its global workforce and the pharmaceutical firm also met 2006 forecasts.
Read more at Reuters South Africa
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