On Frankfurt's DAX, Deutsche Bank finished 5.8% higher, followed by car-makers Volkswagen and BMW, up by 4.7% and 3.6%, respectively, while steelmaker ThyssenKrupp rose by 3.9%. The FTSE 100 closed 1.38% higher, the DAX gained 1.95% and the CAC-40 ended 1.56% higher. European equities closed higher on Friday, buoyed an acceleration in the rate of growth in Austria's manufacturing sector and gains for the region's commodities stocks and automobile makers which helped to offset disappointing inflation figures.