LONDON, Nov 23, 2007 (AFP) - Europe's main stock markets headed higher on Friday at the end of a turbulent week which saw global equities rocked by fears over a US economic slowdown.

London's FTSE 100 index of leading companies jumped 0.88 percent to 6,209.20 points in morning trade, Frankfurt DAX 30 added 0.27 percent to 7,582.97 points and in Paris the CAC 40 gained 0.72 percent to 5,455.36.

The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index of top eurozone shares rose 0.67 percent to 4,237.23 points.

Despite the gains, all three main European markets remain in negative territory for the week.

The European single currency stood at 1.4791 dollars, after earlier striking a record high point of 1.4967 dollars.

Investor sentiment was subdued with Tokyo closed on Friday for a public holiday.

US markets are also expected to be very quiet as many traders opt for a four-day holiday weekend, following Thursday's shutdown for Thanksgiving.

"It's a lacklustre day out there today," noted analyst Will Rogers from Blue Oar Securities.

In London, the mining sector was in focus, with Vedanta Resources storming ahead as bid rumours swirled around the group. Vedanta's share price topped the FTSE leaders board, leaping 4.89 percent to 1,993 pence.

Antofagasta shares were jolted 4.77 percent higher to 669.5 pence and Anglo American surged 4.59 percent to 2,938 pence.

In Frankfurt, Deutsche Postbank added 3.43 percent to 58.46 euros after Merrill Lynch added the bank's shares to its 'most preferred banking list.'

And in Paris, the French banking sector was bolsted by an encouraging report from Moody's ratings agency on the outlook for the sector.

BNP Paribas led the risers, adding 3.02 percent to stand at 70.52 euros, while Societe Generale gained 2.35 percent in value to 96.11 euros.

In the airline sector, flagship carriers extended Thursday's gains, which were sparked by a strong second-quarter earnings report from Air France.

Air France shares soared 1.70 percent to stand at 25.15 euros on Friday.

This week, world equities were pummelled by record high oil prices, which flirted with 100 dollars per barrel in New York, sparking concerns that rising inflation and energy costs could bite into company profits.

In addition, the US Federal Reserve has slashed its official forecast range for American economic growth next year, stoking fears of a wider global slowdown.

The Fed cut its 2008 US economic growth projection to 1.8 to 2.5 percent from 2.5 to 2.75 percent in the wake of the subprime crisis.