French CAC hits 15-month closing high

LONDON Dec 24 (Reuters) - France's top share index CAC-40 .FCHI ticked higher on Thursday, hitting its highest close in nearly 15 months for a second consecutive day in a shortened Christmas Eve trading session.

The French benchmark ended 1.98 points or 0.05 percent higher at 3,912.73, up for the fourth day in a row.

Activity was light with about 12 percent of its 90-day daily average volume as most European markets were closed.

Total (TOTF.PA) was the top-weighted gainer, up 0.3 percent on firmer crude prices CLc1, which rose for a fourth day on inventory drops in key consumer markets.

Drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA) lost 0.4 percent. The company failed to win early support from the UK's health costs board for its Multaq heart drug on the state-run National Health Service because it is too pricey and no better than existing treatments.

The CAC-40 has rallied nearly 59 percent since hitting a floor in early March and is up 21.6 percent for the year. It is on track for its best yearly gains since 2005. Last year, it tumbled more than 42 percent.

French markets will resume trading on Monday, Dec. 28. (Reporting by Dominic Lau; Editing by David Holmes)