Equities markets in the eurozone were buoyed by advances in the oil and gas sectors as crude oil prices were up again and Credit Suisse First Boston and Merrill Lynch both boosted their outlook for oil stocks.

Total was up 2.2 percent to €202.30, Repsol YPF gained 2.1 percent to €22.41, and Eni advanced by 2.2 percent to €22.46. Neste Oil was up 2.2 percent to €23.50, Statoil rose by 2.1 percent to NKr143.50, and Norsk Hydro advanced to NKr638, up 4.2 percent.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 gained 0.6 percent on the day to 1,157.21, a new 3-year high. Meanwhile in London, the FTSE 100 gained 0.8 percent to 5,229.6, the fourth day in a row that the index reached a new 3-year high.

The FTSE 250 gained 1.2 percent to reach an all-time high of 7,487.9. Trade was strong at 3.9 billion shares traded.

At least part of the gains in London came after the announcement that the International Olympic Committee had awarded the 2012 Olympic Games to London. Companies from many sectors stand to benefit from the games.

Among those seeing advances today were WS Atkins, the UK’s biggest engineering consultancy, which gained 4.8 percent to 716p. Senco advanced by 2.1 percent to 259 ¼p, Amec rose 0.9 percent to 331p, and Carillion was up 5 percent to 284 p.

Other gainers included Balfour Beatty, which gained 5.2 percent to 347.25p, building materials group Hanson, which advanced 2.1 percent to 545 ½p, and Severfield-Rowen, which rose 9 percent to 707p. Caterer Compass Group was up 2.42 percent to 244p, while Workspace gained 4.3 percent to 248 ¾p.