BANGKOK - World stock markets rose Wednesday as investors put aside concerns over flagging consumer and business confidence in developed economies to hunt for bargains.
Oil prices recovered losses, rising to near $89 a barrel. The dollar was higher against the euro but slipped against the yen.
European shares rose in early trading. Britain's FTSE 100 was 0.7 per cent higher at 5,307.08 and Germany's DAX gained 1.3 per cent to 5,714.59. In Paris, the CAC-40 rose 1.4 per cent to 3,202.49.
Ahead of the opening bell on Wall Street, Dow Jones industrial futures were 0.7 per cent higher at 11,572 and S&P 500 futures rose 0.8 per cent to 1,214.90.
Asian markets made broad-based advances.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 logged a fifth day of gains to close narrowly up at 8,955.20 after spending part of the day in negative territory.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 1.6 per cent to 20,534.85 and South Korea's Kospi gained 2 per cent at 1,880.11. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.6 per cent at 4,296.50. Benchmarks in the Philippines, Taiwan and Singapore also rose.
Share prices have been pummeled in recent months, but that has presented an opportunity for investors interested in bargains, analysts said.
"The market has been down for quite some time this summer, ever since middle of April," said Hong Kong-based analyst Francis Lun. "The market is poised for a rebound."
Sentiment in Japan was dampened after growth in industrial production fell far short of forecasts in July. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said industrial production edged up 0.6 per cent from the previous month -- falling short of its projected 2.2 per cent rise.
The persistently strong yen continued to place a drag on Japan's powerhouse export sector, particularly consumer electronics. Panasonic Corp. lost 1.6 per cent, Sony Corp. fell 1.8 per cent and Toshiba Corp. dropped 2.4 per cent. Copier maker Ricoh Co. lost 0.4 per cent.
Separately, South Korea's LG Electronics jumped 4.1 per cent and car maker Hyundai Motor rose 3.3 per cent. But gains were held in check elsewhere after South Korea reported that industrial output expanded 3.8 per cent last month from a year earlier, the slowest pace since September 2010, Yonhap News agency said.
Mainland Chinese shares were mixed, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gaining marginally to 2,567.34 after dipping almost 1 per cent earlier in the day. The Shenzhen Composite Index lost 0.4 per cent to 1,143.34. Shares in cement and travel-related companies advanced while shares in construction, aviation and chemicals weakened.
"Rumors say Chinese banks will have to set aside an additional 950 billion yuan (US$149 billion) as reserves, which will cause a funds shortage. As funds in the market switch between different shares, it is unstable," said Liu Kan, an analyst at Guoyuan Securities, based in Shanghai.
Chinese automaker BYD lost 3.7 per cent after acknowledging reports it is planning layoffs in its sales teams, while Wuliangye Yibin Co., a famous fine spirits producer, gained 2.4 per cent in expectation of stronger demand during the upcoming mid-autumn festival.
In Europe on Tuesday, stocks were hurt by a report showing consumer and business sentiment in the 17 countries that use the euro common currency was souring due to uncertainties about the future of the global economic recovery and the region's festering debt crisis.
Wall Street, though, traded higher despite a survey showing a slump in consumer confidence in the U.S., as investors took the opportunity to buy into what they considered cheap stocks.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.2 per cent to close at 11,559.95. The Standard & Poor's 500 rose 0.2 per cent to 1,212.92. The Nasdaq composite index rose 0.6 per cent to 2,576.11.
In currencies, the euro dropped to $1.4432 from $1.4447 late Tuesday in New York. The dollar fell to 76.57 yen from 76.72 yen.
Benchmark oil for October delivery was up 11 cents to $88.99 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Crude rose $1.63 to settle at $88.90 on Tuesday.
In London, Brent crude for October delivery was up 19 cents at $114.21 on the ICE Futures exchange.
