LONDON - Britain's top share index closed 0.8 percent firmer, pushed up by financials and miners, though gains were limited by figures that showed new US housing starts fell to record lows. The FTSE 100 closed 0.8 percent or 35.80 points higher at 4,482.25.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares rose to their highest close in more than four months, driven by optimism about a financial sector recovery, though gains were limited by U.S. housing starts falling to a record low. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares rose 1.4 percent to a close of 872.09 points, its highest close since Jan. 8. The index, which fell 45 percent in 2008, is up 34.8 percent from a lifetime low of March 9.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROpean markets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 4959.62 points, up 107.66 or 2.22 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3274.96 points, up 29.57 or 0.91 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5498.8 points, up 63.68 or 1.17 percent.

MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 15836 points, up 129 or 0.82 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average gained 2.7 percent, making up ground lost the previous day with exporters such as Canon lifted by a sharp slide in the yen and easing worries about the U.S. economy and consumer spending. The Nikkei advanced 251.60 points to 9,290.29, making up for a 2.4 percent fall the previous day.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares rallied 3.0 percent to close at a seven-and-a-half month high, in its third straight day of gains as signs of an early turnaround in the global economy lured investors. The Hang Seng Index ended up 521.12 points at 17,544.03, its highest closing level since October 2008.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian shares rose 2.2 percent, boosted by investor optimism that the worst of the economic crisis may be over, and buoyed by strength in miners such as BHP Billiton and in energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 index stood 81.7 points higher at 3,817.3.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South African stocks rallied to an 18-week high, propelled by miners' gains on firmer commodity prices, and the rand strengthened against the dollar, taking its cue mostly from global markets. The All-share index closed at 22398.38 points, up 453.26 or 2.07 percent.