Singapore: World stock markets rose Thursday on optimism that Asian and US economic growth will likely withstand financial turmoil in Europe.
Oil prices, meanwhile, headed above $72 a barrel and the shaky euro recouped some losses against the dollar.
Asian countries including China, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia have reported robust economic figures for the first quarter, raising hopes the region can absorb any downturn in Europe.
In early trading, European shares extended Wednesday's advance as Britain's FTSE 100 gained 1.1 per cent, Germany's DAX index rose 1.1 per cent, and France's CAC-40 climbed 0.9 per cent. Futures pointed to gains of nearly 2 per cent Thursday on Wall Street.
Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average rose 1.2 percent to 9,639.72 while South Korea's Kospi jumped 1.6 per cent to 1,607.50. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index gained 1.7 percent to 4,379.10.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 1.2 per cent to 19,431.37 and benchmarks in China, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia all rose more than 1 per cent.