LONDON - Britain's top shares ended 2.3 percent higher and posted their biggest daily gain in four-and-a-half months, with banks and commodity shares rising as worries over Dubai's debt problems faded. The FTSE 100 closed at 5,312.17 points, up 121.49 or 2.34 percent.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST
EUROPE - European stocks notched up their biggest one-day gain in four-and-a-half months, with banks rebounding as recent worries about Dubai's debt receded, and macroeconomic data further boosting sentiment.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed up 2.6 percent at 1,011.06 points, the biggest one-day percentage gain since July 15.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets
FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,776.61 points, up 150.66 or 2.68 percent.
PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,775.74 points, up 95.59 or 2.6 percent.
ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,372.08 points, up 111.13 or 1.77 percent.
MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 22,995.84 points, up 621.58 or 2.78 percent.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei
TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average rose more than two percent to a two-week closing high after the Bank of Japan said it would hold an extraordinary policy meeting, sparking speculation it might take steps to support the economy. The Nikkei climbed 2.4 percent to 9,572.20, its highest close since November 18.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng
HONG KONG - Hong Kong and China stocks rose as sentiment improved amid optimism over China's economic growth after upbeat mainland manufacturing surveys, with banks, carmakers and airlines leading gains. The Hang Seng Index climbed to a session high of 22,130.75 before ending at 22,113.15, up 1.34 percent or 291.65 points, extending the previous session's biggest single-day percentage gain in more than four months.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx
SYDNEY - Australian stocks closed 0.4 higher, getting a lift from builder Lend Lease after a big overseas contract win and from oil firms on higher energy prices. The S&P/ASX 200 index ended up 17.65 points at 4,719.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's rand firmed against the dollar as concerns over the Dubai credit crisis waned, swaying investors back to high-risk assets and local stocks climbed on the back of stronger resource shares. The All-share index closed at 27,277.5 points, up 382.76 or 1.42 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,709.64 points, up 122.63 or 4.74 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 21,156.3 points, up 217.12 or 1.04 percent.
