LONDON - Britain's leading shares closed 1.1 percent higher, supported by gains in banks and miners, after better-than-expected economic growth from the US boosted investor sentiment.

The FTSE 100 closed 57.3 points higher at 5,137.72, reversing earlier losses, as data showed the US economy grew 3.5 percent in the third quarter, the first sign of growth in more than a year, unofficially signalling the end of the recession for the country.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares closed sharply higher after data confirmed that the US had emerged from recession.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares rose 1.7 percent to a close of 997.49 points.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,587.45 points, up 91.18 or 1.66 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,714.02 points, up 50.24 or 1.37 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,351.27 points, up 71.33 or 1.14 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,239.93 points, up 478.82 or 2.1 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average slid below 10,000 to a three-week closing low as a strong yen hurt exporter shares and weak US data renewed worry about global economic growth, sparking a broad sell-off on Wall Street. The Nikkei lost 1.83 percent or 183.95 points to 9,891.1, its lowest close since October 8.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Shares in Hong Kong and China finished at multi-week lows, with Chinese banks hit by worries about a possible interest rate rise in the mainland, while Nine Dragons Paper slumped on its plan to issue new shares. The Hang Seng Index slid 2.28 percent or 496.59 points to 21,264.99, its lowest in more than three weeks.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Stocks logged their biggest one-day percentage fall in four months, as global miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto were dragged down by lower oil and metal prices. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 2.36 or 110.4 points to 4,574.7, its biggest one-day percentage fall since June 23.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's rand regained as much as 1.9 percent against the dollar in later trade, turning back recent losses, while shares ended stronger, led by Anglo-American and other resource stocks.

The All-share index closed at 26,549.41 points, up 492.93 or 1.89 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,446.72 points, down 29.82 or 1.2 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 20,752.18 points, up 186.96 or 0.91 percent.