LONDON - Britain's top share index closed higher, lifted by gains in miners and banks, as investor appetite for risk was boosted by positive comments on the US economy from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke. The FTSE 100 closed up 57.71 points, or 1.2 percent, at 5,085.86, after a choppy session.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares rose, snapping a three-day losing streak, after better-than-expected Chinese export data boosted hopes for global economic recovery. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 1.8 percent to a close of 998.44 points.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROpean markets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5984.75 points, up 116.2 or 1.98 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3446.77 points, up 66.41 or 1.96 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6319.18 points, up 72.96 or 1.17 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 19520.99 points, up 366.69 or 1.91 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average fell to a six-month closing low as investors worried about whether Europe can tackle its debt woes after Fitch Ratings said Britain faced a "formidable" fiscal challenge. In moderate trade, the Nikkei fell one percent to 9,439.13, its lowest close since late November.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong stocks reversed earlier losses to end the day up 0.7 percent as the markets got a shot in the arm from a Reuters report that showed a surge in Chinese exports for the month of May. The Hang Seng Index, which had opened flat and traded in negative territory through the morning session, ended 133.76 points higher at 19,621.24.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian stocks were little changed, spending most of the session in the red as uncertainty about the mining tax weighed on sentiment, but edging up at the close. The S&P/ASX 200 ended up 4.1 points or 0.1 percent to 4,385.3, after gaining 1.3 percent the previous day.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South African stocks jumped, halting four days of decline, led by miners on stronger commodity prices after encouraging China's export data, while the rand was little changed as importers keep the upside move in check. The All-share index closed at 26650.86 points, up 631.15 or 2.43 percent.