NEW YORK - US stocks ended in positive territory as corporate raider Carl Icahn revealed a large stake in Apple, sending the technology titan 4.8 per cent higher.
The broad-based S&P 500 climbed 4.69 (0.28 per cent) to 1,694.16 on Tuesday, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index increased 14.49 (0.39 per cent) to 3,684.44.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, whose 30 blue chip stocks do not include Apple, gained 31.33 (0.20 per cent) at 15,451.01.
LONDON - European stock markets closed on an upbeat note, boosted by encouraging eurozone data signalling that the 17-nation bloc may be edging out of recession, dealers say.
London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares climbed 0.57 per cent to finish at 6,611.94 points.
Frankfurt's DAX 30 advanced 0.68 per cent to 8,415.76 points, while the CAC 40 in Paris added 0.51 per cent to end at a new high this year at 4,092.50 points.
Industrial output in the eurozone bounced back sharply in June, official data showed.
With overall growth figures for the second quarter, due on Wednesday, expected to show a switch out of recession, eurozone industrial production in June output jumped 0.7 per cent from May when it fell 0.2 per cent.
Separate data showed that investment sentiment in Germany rose more than expected in August.
The widely watched investor confidence index calculated by the ZEW economic institute rose by 5.7 points to 42.0 points in August, beating analysts' forecasts for an increase to about 40 points this month.
The euro fell back to $US1.3240 from $US1.3299 late in New York on Monday.
HONG KONG - Asian markets rose with Tokyo lifted by a weaker yen ahead of fresh numbers that will give an indication of the strength of the US economy.
Tokyo jumped 2.57 per cent by the close after slipping on Monday following disappointing Japanese growth figures.
Seoul ended up 1.5 per cent, or 28.20 points at 1,913.03, while Sydney closed up 0.96 per cent, or 49.0 points at 5157.7.
Hong Kong closed up 1.21 per cent, or 269.85 points at 22,541.13, with investors still broadly bolstered by last week's positive indicators pointing to stability in the region's largest economy.
In Shanghai, Chinese shares ended up a more modest 0.23 per cent, or 4.88 points, at 2,106.16.
WELLINGTON - The NZX 50 Index rose 3.522 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 4525.821 on Tuesday.
