World markets on upward momentum

World equity markets finished the week on an up-trend despite less-than-encouraging economic data from the US and China.

A leading US consumer confidence index fell in July compared to the previous month, while China announced its economy only grew 7.6% in the second quarter, its slowest pace in three years.

In Europe, Italy successfully auctioned medium- and long- term notes while Spanish bond yields moved lower. The Iseq index added 27.97 points to 3,189.40.