EUROPE'S main stock markets have extended gains on growing expectations of an interest rate cut by the ECB following poor German economic data. After sharply rising the day before, London's FTSE 100 index of leading companies closed 0.40 per cent higher to stand at 6431.76 points, while Frankfurt's DAX 30 climbed 1.32 per cent to 7759.21 points and Paris' CAC 40 jumped 1.58 per cent to 3842.94 points. In foreign exchange trade, the euro dipped to $US1.2995 ($1.27) from $US1.2997 overnight in New York. The US dollar which again neared the 100 yen level in early trading, stabilised back to 99.36 yen compared to 99.48 yesterday. On the London Bullion Market, gold climbed to $US1428.50 an ounce from $US1408 overnight. "Following yesterday's weak PMI (private sector economic) data we have had a poor German Ifo survey, further reinforcing market speculation of a rate cut from the ECB," said CMC Markets trader Nick Dale-Lace. German business confidence took a tumble this month, according to data today, supporting speculation of a possible interest rate cut by the European Central Bank, analysts said. The Ifo economic institute's closely watched business climate index fell to 104.4 points in April from 106.7 points in March. That was a bigger drop than expected: analysts had been pencilling in only a very slight decrease this month to 106.2 points. Gekko Markets trader Anita Paluch said that "bad numbers may be conducive enough for ECB to take some action and provide more liquidity in the light of those economic headwinds." European stocks markets had closed sharply higher yesterday, with Paris up 3.5 per cent, on growing speculation of a rate cut from the ECB. Market watchers were today also poring over a batch of mixed company earnings data. Volkswagen shares rose 2.59 per cent to 150.70 euros, even though Europe's biggest carmaker said its net profit skidded sharply lower in the first three months of the current year as a result of the "difficult market environment." Traders said the share price was higher owing to the company sticking to its full-year target of increasing profit. In London, Barclays dropped 1.26 per cent to 294.55 pence, erasing earlier gains, as the British bank said it had returned a net profit in the first quarter after suffering a loss after tax one year earlier. France Telecom meanwhile advanced 2.73 per cent to 8.01 euros after the company said it was banking on high-speed internet services to boost sales after reporting a substantial drop in first quarter earnings owing to stiff competition. US stocks meanwhile were mixed today, with trade tempered by Apple's fall in profits and a poor read on durable goods orders in March. In midday trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.17 per cent, the broad-based S&P 500 added 0.03 per cent, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index lost 0.15 per cent. Asian stock markets rose on bargain-buying on Wednesday and following a rally overnight on Wall Street according to traders, with Tokyo enjoying a healthy bump as the US dollar tries to break through the 100 yen barrier for the first time in four years. Investors took their lead from New York, which jumped on Tuesday on the back of upbeat earnings results from some corporate giants, while they seemed to brush off more weak manufacturing figures from China and Europe. Tokyo closed up 2.32 per cent, Seoul won 0.87 per cent and Sydney climbed 1.72 per cent.