Seoul - Shares surged 2.3 per cent Thursd

Tokyo - Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 4 per cent Thursday on March industrial output data and optimism over a possible US economic recovery.

The Nikkei index surged 339.87 points, or 4 per cent, to close morning trading at 8,833.64, and the broader Topix index of all first-section issues also rose 29.05 points, or 3.6 per cent, to 841.04.

Investors returned from a national holiday Thursday to buy a wide range of issues after the nation's industrial production data for March came out stronger than expected.

New York  - US stocks posted strong gains on Wednesday as most companies that reported profits for the first quarter beat estimates on the day, drowning out reports of a sharp contraction in the US economy over the first three months.

Time Warner Inc, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co, DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc and Hess Corp all beat analysts' expectations, offering some hope that the worst may be over and driving all major US stock indices up by more than 2 per cent.

The benchmark indices ended smartly with hefty gains after yesterday's steep fall on the back of positive global cues and short covering on the F&O expiry day. The Sensex closed at 11,403 up 402 points or 3.65% and the Nifty surged 3.32% or 112 points to settle at 3,474. Te BSE Midcap Index closed 63 points or 1.83% and the Smallcap Index went up 1.35% or 52.

All BSE sectoral indexes ended in green. Buying was across the board, IT, banking, oil & gas and capital goods let the rally today.

The Sensex ended the April series with 17.5% gain while the Nifty surged 15%.

Movers & Shakers

New Delhi - Indian equities rose more than 3 per cent Wednesday, riding a good performance by information-technology stocks and positive global cues. The Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-share sensitive index Sensex closed at 11,403, 3.65 per cent above its previous close.

The broader 50-share Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange ended 3.32 per cent up at 3,473.95.

Strong quarterly results from mobile telephone giant Bharti Airtel helped boost market sentiment.

Beijing - China's main stock market index leapt by 2.78 p