LONDON - London's top share index closed 2.2 percent higher, fuelled by a rise in the oil price which prompted a strong rally in commodity stocks, and on hopes that the recession may be drawing to a close. The FTSE 100 closed at 4,340.71 points, up 91.5 or 2.15 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European equities ended the first session of the quarter in positive territory, with strong metals prices boosting mining shares, while banks rose after slipping in four of the past seven days.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 1.8 percent higher at 865.66 points after falling 1.1 percent on the last day of the second quarter.

But the benchmark index, which slumped 45 percent in 2008, gained nearly 16 percent in the second quarter, its best performance since late 1999.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 4,905.44 points, up 96.8 or 2.01 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,217 points, up 76.56 or 2.44 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,472.94 points, up 68.97 or 1.28 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 20,165.21 points, up 379.92 or 1.92 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei stock average dipped 0.2 percent, with shares in Orix Corp. and All Nippon Airways sliding after sources familiar with the companies said they were set to announce large public share offerings. The Nikkei eased 18.51 points to end at 9,939.93.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's financial markets were closed yesterday, on the anniversary of the territory' shandover to China from Britain. On Tuesday the Hang Seng finished down 0.81 percent at 18,378.73.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian shares fell 2.1 percent as soft economic indicators around the world put pressure on growth-sensitive stocks such as top miner BHP Billiton, while the banks also struggled. The S&P/ASX 200 lost 80.9 points to 3,874, retreating from Tuesday's two-week closing high.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's resource-heavy stocks raced higher, propelled by miners' gains on buoyant metal prices and tracking firmer world equity stocks on hopes the global economy has bottomed out. The All-share index closed at 22,710.16 points, up 660.74 or three percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,372.5 points, up 60.94 or 2.64 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 17,636.26 points, up 406.75 or 2.36 percent.