LONDON - Britain's top share index closed 2.26 percent higher propelled by gains in banks, with Lloyds Banking Group up after its chairman said he was to step down, and in energy stocks as oil prices rose. By the close, the FTSE 100 was 98.34 points higher at 4,446.45 points, the session peak, having rallied from a low of 4,307.72.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European equities closed higher as financial stocks climbed on hopes a recession in top global economies was abating, while energy shares tracked higher crude oil prices. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 2.4 percent higher at 859.88 points after falling as low as 827.32. The index, which slumped 45 percent in 2008, is up three percent this year.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROpean markets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 4,851.96 points, up 114.46 or 2.42 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,245.39 points, up 76.34 or 2.41 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,435.12 points, up 84.45 or 1.58 percent.

MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 15,707 points, up 215 or 1.39 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei stock average shed 2.44 percent to hit its lowest close since May 1, with exporters such as Sony sinking as the yen advanced against the dollar. The Nikkei lost 226.33 points to 9,038.69 after falling as much as 2.9 percent to 8,997.74.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

HONG KONG - Shares reversed course to finish 1.38 percent higher led by Chinese counters after the Shanghai market rose in a bout of late-session buying while local property stocks jumped on hopes of a recovery. The Hang Seng Index ended 232.21 points higher at 17,022.91 led by a 2.9 percent jump in China Construction Bank.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Stocks fell one percent as lingering concerns about the economic outlook hit mining stocks and a wave of capital raisings weighed on some stocks, such as wheat exporter AWB. The S&P/ASX 200 index ended down 37.6 points at 3,735.6.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - Stocks notched up a third day of gains, tracking a rise in global equities, with Vodacom making a solid debut in one of the country's biggest listings. The All-share index closed at 21,945.12 points, up 239.98 or 1.11 percent.