LONDON - Gains in banks and retailers outweighed weakness in energy stocks and drugmakers to leave Britain's top share index up 0.1 percent by the close. The FTSE 100 index ended up 4.51 points at 4,416.23, having ended 46.43 points higher on Tuesday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European equities finished higher for a third straight session, boosted by financial and retail shares, on hopes the market has seen its worst for the year and is on track for a recovery. The FTSEurofirst 300 of top European shares ended 0.6 percent higher at 870.63 points. The index, which slumped 45 percent in 2008, has gained in eight of past 10 sessions and is up 35 percent from a lifetime low hit in early March.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROpean markets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,000.77 points, up 15.17 or 0.30 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,294.86 points, up 24.77 or 0.76 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,419.42 points, down 11.85 or 0.22 percent.

MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 16,002 points, up 13 or 0.08 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 1.37 percent to close at its highest level in roughly two weeks, with exporters gaining ground after US consumer confidence surged. The Nikkei rose 127.96 points to 9,438.77, breaking above its 200-day moving average near 9,400 but failing to reach this year's inraday high of 9,503.91.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Shares shot up 5.26 percent to an eight-month high in resurgent volumes, with encouraging consumer confidence data from the U.S. shining the spotlight on a likely global economic recovery. The Hang Seng Index closed up 893.71 points at 17,885.27 after climbing to 17,984.02 points intraday, its highest level since early October 2008. Hong Kong's market will be closed on Thursday for the Dragon Boat Festival holiday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Stocks rose 0.34 percent, as companies with big US operations, like Westfield Group, jumped after consumer confidence data in the US gave hope of an economic rebound. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 12.7 points to 3,801.1, adding to a 1.4 percent gain on Tuesday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - The rand firmed sharply to an eight-month against the dollar on Wednesday as investors favoured local assets on a proposed deal between telecoms operator MTN and its Indian counterpart Bharti Airtel. The All-share index closed at 22,521.68 points, up 80.84 or 0.36 percent.