LONDON - Britain's top share index hit a 10-month closing high lifted by a rally in mining stocks, after reassuring gross domestic product (GDP) data from France and Germany fuelled hopes of an economic recovery. The FTSE 100 closed up 0.82 percent, or 38.7 points, at 4,755.46, the highest closing level since October 6 and slightly off an intra-day peak of 4,789.98 hit earlier in the session.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares closed higher after France and Germany unexpectedly reported economic growth, but gains were scaled back after data in the US was less upbeat. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares rose 0.7 percent to close at 948.58 points, after touching a nine-month intraday high of 956.10 points.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,401.11 points, up 51.02 or 0.95 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,524.39 points, up 17.15 or 0.49 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,986.72 points, up 24.23 or 0.41 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 22,252.07 points, up 261.73 or 1.19 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average edged back towards a 10-month high on relief after the Federal Reserve suggested the US economy is through the worst of the recession. The Nikkei rose 0.79 percent or 82.19 points to 10,517.19.

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HONG KONG - Shares rose 2.08 percent, reclaiming some lost ground from the previous session, on the back of supportive comments from the US Federal Reserve and positive earnings momentum. The Hang Seng Index finished up 426.06 points at 20,861.3.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Shares rose for a fourth day to a fresh 10-month high, with banks leading the gains on optimism about an economic recovery, though Telstra Corp. slipped as its outlook caused concern.

The S&P/ASX 200 index gained 2.14 percent or 92.8 points to 4,435.9, its highest close since October 7.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - The rand weakened but government bonds and stocks rallied after the central bank surprised markets with a 50 basis point interest rate cut.

The All-share index closed at 25,009.89 points, up 421.44 or 1.71 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,443.81 points, up 100.04 or 4.27 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 19,309.72 points, up 69.5 or 0.36 percent.