FRENCH financial shares climbed, led by BNP Paribas SA and Credit Agricole SA.

EUROPEAN Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet has said market bets on an interest rate increase as soon as next month are reasonable amid accelerating economic growth in the 12-nation euro region.

THE US dollar advanced against the euro and the yen after an industry report showed prices paid by US manufacturers jumped last month and the economy’s services industries expanded at a faster pace.