World Markets Climb

Most stocks in Asia were higher overnight Wednesday, and Europe's markets followed with their own rally.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.8% to 19,516, and China's Shanghai and Shenzhen 300 was better by 1.1% at 2703. Taiwan's Taiex collected a 0.3% gain to 7757, but South Korea's Kospi slipped 0.1% to 1443.

Singapore's Straits Times Index advanced 1.3% to 3156, and India's BSE Sensex surged 1.9% to 12,946. Tokyo was closed.

Turning to Europe, London's FTSE 100 was up 0.6% to 6257, and Frankfurt's Xetra DAX was ahead by 0.2% at 6712. The Cac 40 in Paris was fractionally weaker at 5502, while Milan's MIB 30 gained 0.5% to 40,596.

The Swiss Market Index and the OMX Stockholm 30 both rose 0.7%.

As for the Americas, Canada's S&P/TSX Composite was up 0.5% at 13,044, and Mexico's Bolsa was higher by 1% at 27,672. Brazil's Bovespa improved 0.6% to 44,600, and Argentina's Merval added 0.4% to 2049.