LONDON - Britain's FTSE 100 hit its highest closing level in a year, led by banks and miners and spurred by appetite for risky assets as optimism about the pace of global economic recovery intensified. The index closed up 82 points, or 1.63 percent higher, at 5,124.13 - the highest close since late September last year. It touched a session high of 5,131.26.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares rose 1.4 percent on growing signs of a global economic recovery, with the main FTSEurofirst 300 index closing above the 1,000 mark for the first time in more than 11 months. US industrial production rose for a second consecutive month in August, providing further evidence that the recovery was under way. The data came a day after US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke saying the recession was likely over. The FTSEurofirst 300 index, led by heavyweight banks and commodity stocks, closed up at 1,006.15 points, rising for the eighth session out of nine.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,700.26 points, up 71.28 or 1.27 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,813.79 points, up 61.58 or 1.64 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,299.91 points, up 86.72 or 1.4 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,950.57 points, up 351.25 or 1.49 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.52 percent as Canon Inc and other exporters powered higher, bolstered by optimism about the US economy after strong retail sales data. The benchmark Nikkei rose 53.15 points to 10,270.77.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Shares rose 2.57 percent to a near 13-month closing high, powered by banks on growing optimism about a global economy recovery, ignoring weakness in China stocks as key developer Vanke fell. The Hang Seng Index rose 536.55 points to 21,402.92.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Stocks jumped 2.42 percent to their highest level in more than 11 months, as growing optimism about a global economic recovery powered banks and companies with large offshore earnings. The S&P/ASX 200 index jumped 110.1 points to 4,650.4, its highest close since October 3, 2008. The index has now rallied about 25 percent in 2009, rebounding from last year's 41 percent slide.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - Stocks ended up, boosted by miners that rode surging metal prices higher, and growing risk appetite on optimism a global economic recovery is in sight.

The All-share index closed at 25,578.75 points, up 361.19 or 1.43 percent.