LONDON - Britain's top share index surged two percent, hitting its highest closing level in more than a year, as quarterly earnings from JPMorgan Chase and Intel lifted investor's sentiment.

The FTSE 100 ended up 101.95 points higher at 5,256.1, after closing 1.1 percent weaker on Tuesday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares rose to their highest closing level in more than a year as a surge in quarterly profits at JPMorgan boosted sentiment, with banks and commodity stocks the biggest gainers.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares closed up two percent at 1,016.24 points.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,854.14 points, up 139.83 or 2.45 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,882.67 points, up 81.28 or 2.14 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,405.92 points, up 84.66 or 1.34 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 24,970.11 points, up 497.67 or 2.03 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average lost 0.2 percent, hit by profit-taking after five days of gains, with exporters such as Canon pressured by a stronger yen.

The Nikkei lost 16.35 points to 10,060.21.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong stocks packed on more gains, closing 1.95 percent higher on the back of liquidity inflows from investments exiting the US dollar, which touched a 14-month low. Commodity and export-related stocks soaked up most of the fund inflows, while sentiment found additional support from expectations of strong corporate earnings and economic data.

The Hang Seng Index rose 419.12 points to finish at 21,886.48.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian stocks rose one percent to close at their highest level in more than a year, led by banks and mining giant Rio Tinto, which extended gains after a strong production report.

The S&P/ASX 200 index gained 45.4 points to close at 4,831.1, adding to a one percent rise on Tuesday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South African stocks jumped to a one-month high, notching a third straight day of gains as miners rode commodity prices higher, while the rand touched a a new 14-month peak against the dollar.

The All-share index closed at 26,056.41 points, up 386.12 or 1.5 percent.

The All Gold index closed at 2,658.63 points, down 19.89 or 0.74 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 20,395.62 points, up 116.74 or 0.58 percent.