European stock markets sprinted ahead on Friday on sharply better than expected US employment data that revived hopes of a US recovery accompanied by a decline in joblessness.
 
The London FTSE 100 index gained 0.18 percent to close at 5322.36 while in Paris the Cac 40 rose 1.25 percent to 3846.62. The Frankfurt Dax added 0.82 percent to finish at 5817.65.
 
Elsewhere there were gains of 1.37 percent in Milan, 0.89 percent on the Swiss Market Index, 1.11 percent in Amsterdam and 1.07 percent in Madrid.
 
Bond prices in Europe fell hard as the good news from the United States encouraged investors to favor equities. The 10-year German Bund was carrying a yield of 3.230 percent after 3.166 percent on Thursday while the French OAT was yielding 3.475 Percent from 3.439 percent. Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions.
 
In Europe stocks soared shortly after publication of the US job report before stabilising ahead of the close.