Around the World's Markets: FRANKFURT

SHARES CLOSED higher as European stock markets, unable to take their lead from Wall Street (closed for Thanksgiving), forged ahead in an atmosphere of mega-merger euphoria. The Xetra DAX closed at 5,067.99, up 111.46; the DAX closed floor-trading 107.26 higher at 5,051.63.

"The mood is positive but volumes were extremely low so share prices could be turned around even by the smallest trade," one trader said.

BMW rose over 5.07 per cent on rumours of a special dividend.