UK and Europe enjoy good Thursday trading

European and U.S. markets were up on Thursday, but the Tokyo markets were mixed.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei index was down 0.1 percent, while the Topix index was up 0.1 percent.

Consumer electronics were mostly up, but retailers were generally down amid the concerns of investor concerns over restructuring.

The London markets were up for the third day in a row.

The FTSE 100 was up 0.6 percent and the FTSE 250- was up 0.3 percent. Gains were mostly due to rumors that Shell might acquire Woodside, an Australian oil and gas company.

Shell already owns 34 percent of Woodside, so a deal was considered possible. Also a factor was a decision by the Bank of England to leave interest rates at their present level.

In Europe, the FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up 0.3 percent, mostly on the strength of the energy sector.

In the U.S. at midday, meanwhile, The Dow Jones and the S&P 500 were both up 0.4 percent, and the Nasdaq was up 0.5 percent, all on light trading.

These gains seemed to be despite crude oil prices that were up again and bad news in the pharmaceuticals sector over more announced risks to patients from arthritis drugs.

Pfizer was down 1.6 at midday and Merck was down 0.9 percent.

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