LONDON - Britain's top share index rose for a ninth straight day as investors cheered positive economic data from both the UK and the US, with miners and banks enjoying an afternoon rally after falls the previous session. The FTSE 100 index rose 66.07 points, or 1.47 percent, to 4,559.8, the highest closing level since early January, making its longest winning run since late 2003.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares rose for a ninth consecutive day to an eight-month closing high, as reassuring corporate earnings and positive economic data spurred optimism the financial downturn may be abating. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares ended two percent higher at 908.15 points after touching 909.07, the highest since early November last year. It is the longest winning streak for the index since late 2006.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,247.28 points, up 125.72 or 2.45 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,373.72 points, up 68.65 or 2.08 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,765.51 points, up 128.49 or 2.28 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 20,900.47 points, up 304.49 or 1.48 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 0.72 percent to a three-week closing high as Sony and other exporters gained in the wake of a weaker yen, with buying of futures providing an additional boost. The Nikkei rose 69.78 points to 9,792.94, its highest close since July 3.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares ended at fresh multi-month peaks as investors scooped up banks and property stocks amid earnings upgrades and improved outlook for the world's third-largest economy. The Hang Seng Index finished up 2.96 percent or 569.53 points at 19,817.7, near a 10-month closing high of 19,999.78, hit last September.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Shares eased 0.11 percent, running out of steam as valuation concerns surfaced following a seven-day winning streak and as National Australia Bank dropped after a A$2 billion ($1.6 billion) capital raising. The S&P/ASX 200 fell 4.4 points to 4,064.1.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - Stocks strode to their highest closing level since last September as firmer metal prices lifted mining stocks and a firmer start on Wall Street buoyed broader sentiment. The All-share index closed at 23,913.55 points, up 305.74 or 1.3 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,363.84 points, up 31.92 or 1.37 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 18,680.59 points, down 60.16 or 0.32 percent.