European Markets
Tech and telecom stocks led the rise in the European markets on Thursday.
London's FTSE 100 was up 1.1%, with chip designer ARM Holdings gaining 6.8% and software company Logica rising 4.2%.
In Paris, the CAC 40 blue chip index rose 1.1% with information technology consultant Cap Gemini Ernst & Young leading the way with a 3.5% jump.
Frankfurt's electronically traded Xetra Dax rose 0.7% as Europe's biggest software company SAP was up 4.8%, making it the biggest gainer on the bourse.
In Amsterdam, the AEX index gained 1.7%, the SMI in Zurich was up 1.6% and the MIB 30 in Milan saw a 1.1% increase.
The pan-European FTSE Eurotop 300, a broader index of the region's largest stocks, gained 1.3%. The information technology, telecom and computer services sub-indices saw a jump of more than two percent each.
Dell said on Wednesday it would meet earnings forecasts, which had a positive effect on chipmakers and related stock.
STMicroelectronics, Europe's biggest chipmaker, was up slightly with a gain of one percent, while Infineon Technologies added 1.5%. Philips Electronics, Europe's third-largest chipmaker, jumped 4.9%.
British Telecommunications gained 4.1% on reports it plans to sell its yellow pages unit to Yell for US$4.3 billion.
Deutsche Telecom was up 2.5%. U.S. Federal regulators will approve the German company's takever by VoiceStream Wireless for US$30 billion, according to press reports on Wednesday.
France Telecom, gained 3.2%, Britain's Cable & Wireless, rose 3.8% and Vodafone Group, the world's biggest mobile phone operator, added 2.5%.
Finland's Nokia, the world's biggest maker of cellular phones, gained 4.4%. Sweden's Ericsson, the biggest supplier of network equipment, jumped 2.9%.
Asian Markets
Telecom equipment maker Alactel was up 2.8%, Marconi gained 3.6% and Siemens rose 3.3%.
Bank, securities and real estate shares were all up in Tokyo on Wednesday.
The benchmark Nikkei average rose slightly at one percent, its third straight day of gains.
The capital-weighted TOPIX index also added one percent.
The government is planning to release its emergency economic package that will help boost the slumping real estate market, include a fund to absorb sales of shares held by banks and help clean up their non-performing loans.
Nomura gained two percent, while Mizuho Holdings, the world's largest bank by assets, finished with a two percent jump as well.
Towa Real Estate Development Co Ltd rose 11%.
National holidays kept the Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korean stock markets closed.
Australia's benchmark S& P/ASX200 gained about 0.8%. Bluechips such as Telstra, BHP and National Australia Bank were all higher, with most others remaining steady.
The Straits Times index in Singapore posted strong results, but Malaysia and Indonesia finished weaker.
