Dow ends near 3-yr high after earnings
Big earnings surprises gave a positive turn to investor sentiment, propelling US stocks to their best day in a month and lifting the Dow industrials to their highest in almost three years.
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 186.79 points, or 1.52 percent, to 12,453.54. The Standard & Poor's 500 rose 17.74 points, or 1.35 percent, to 1,330.36. The Nasdaq Composite added 57.54 points, or 2.10 percent, to 2,802.51.
European shares hit a one-week closing high as strong earnings boosted auto and tech shares, with analysts saying stocks were set to post more gains on attractive valuations and improving economic picture.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares ended 1.9 percent firmer at 1,137.81 points, the highest close since April 11 and the biggest one-day percentage gain in nearly five months.
Tokyo stocks snapped a three-day losing streak after Intel's earnings guidance sparked short-covering in chip-related stocks, but trade is expected to stay thin ahead of forecasts from Japanese firms.The benchmark Nikkei average closed up 1.8 percent, or 165.79 points, at 9,606.82, while the broader Topix gained 1.2 percent to 837.17.
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