EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares gained one percent after three weeks of falls as relief that Hurricane Wilma had missed already storm-battered US energy facilities boosted oil stocks but dragged the crude price lower.
Mining stocks were strong on hopes of bullish earnings while take-over rumours offered support with UK caterer Compass and Danish telecoms firm TDC jumping after being linked to private equity houses.
A report that President Bush would announce top economic adviser Ben Bernanke as successor to Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan also helped global stocks as traders said it removed the uncertainty dogging markets.
Europe's benchmark FTSEurofirst 300 index closed 1.1 percent firmer at 1,185.17, extending gains late in the session.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 4901.79 points, up 63.39 or 1.31 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4421.97 points, up 55.45 or 1.27 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 6911.78 points, up 60.17 or 0.88 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 25140 points, up 281 or 1.13 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares edged lower, easing for a second-straight day as investors eyed inflation risks, although ANZ Banking firmed on the eve of its annual earnings. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index lost 7.1 points, or 0.16 percent, to close at 4,357.2.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Gold shares led South Africa's bourse higher with Harmony and Gold Fields surging, while world markets recovered as inflation jitters eased on declining oil price. The All-share index closed at 16005.74 points, up 389.72 or 2.50 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2080.46 points, up 87.22 or 4.38 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 11685.5 points, up 265.17 or 2.32 percent.