LONDON - Britain's leading share index closed up 1.2 percent as heavyweight miners and banks were buoyed by better US economic data, offsetting weaker food retailers and producers. The FTSE 100 closed at 4,279.98 points, up 49.96 or 1.18 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares closed higher, led by financials, after the biggest-ever liquidity injection by the European Central Bank boosted hopes that the effort could help pull the euro zone economy out of a recession.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares ended 2.4 percent higher at 853.56 points, recovering from two straight sessions of losses. The index, which slumped 45 percent in 2008, has jumped 32 percent since hitting a record low in March.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 4,836.01 points, up 128.86 or 2.74 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,184.76 points, up 67.94 or 2.18 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,443.42 points, up 122.11 or 2.29 percent.

MILAN - The FT Italian All Share index closed at 19,728.93, up 576.08 or 3.01 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei stock average edged 0.4 percent higher as investors picked up some battered shares, with wireless carrier Softbank climbing after UBS Securities raised its target price. The Nikkei rose 40.71 points to 9,590.32.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares outperformed the region with a two percent jump, with advancing stocks outnumbering decliners by three-to-one, but turnover slid to a one-month low ahead of the outcome of the US Federal Reserve meeting. The Hang Seng Index closed up 353.78 points at 17,892.15 after vacillating ahead of results of the US Federal Reserve meeting.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian shares edged back into positive ground to end up 0.3 percent, as shopping mall group Westfield jumped after fund managers regained confidence in real estate investment trusts. The S&P/ASX 200 picked up 10.1 points to end at 3,807, following a slide to a near four-week closing low on Tuesday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South African stocks raced higher as buoyant metal prices lifted miners and Xstrata put more pressure on takeover target Anglo American to come to the negotiating table. The All-share index closed at 22,391.38 points, up 548.93 or 2.51 percent.

The All Gold index closed at 2,417.43 points, up 94.58 or 4.07 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 17,498 points, up 285.19 or 1.66 percent.