LONDON - Britain's top share index closed up one percent, as investors took their positions ahead of a Federal Reserve statement on US growth prospects, with heavyweight oils, banks and miners leading the way.

The FTSE 100 index ended 45.42 points higher at 4,716.76, after closing down 1.1 percent on Tuesday, its biggest fall in a fortnight after hitting 2009 highs on Friday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares ended higher after slipping in the past two days, with impressive results from E.ON boosting utilities shares and banks rising ahead of US Fed statements on the state of the economy.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed one percent higher at 942.06 points.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EURomarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,350.09 points, up 64.28 or 1.22 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,507.24 points, up 51.06 or 1.48 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,962.49 points, up 12.51 or 0.21 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 21,990.34 points, up 273.74 or 1.26 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average retreated from 10-month highs after surprisingly negative US data dampened economic recovery hopes, while investors nervously awaited the US Federal Reserve's view on its monetary policy.

In thin trade, the Nikkei slipped 150.46 points to 10,435 after rising to a 10-month high of 10,587.36 on Tuesday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares slid 3 percent, posting its biggest single-day drop in three months, after a sharp sell-off on the Shanghai bourse and overnight losses on Wall Street gave investors an excuse to take profits on recent sharp gains.

The Hang Seng Index finished 638.97 points lower at 20,435.24, falling off a 12-month closing high above 21,000 points in the previous session.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian stocks eked out a third day of gains, helped by stronger-than-expected earnings from Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the nation's top home lender.

The S&P/ASX 200 index closed up 11.1 points at 4,343.1, adding to a 0.6 percent gain on Tuesday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's rand reversed losses against the dollar, turning slightly firmer partly on news the country's biggest union has suspended a wage strike that could have hurt the economy.

The All-share index dipped 0.38 percent to 24,588.45 points.