Markets in Asia were sharply higher.

The Nikkei rose 1.6% to 9,678.

The Hang Seng was up 3.5% to 18,803.

The Shanghai Composite rose 3.4% to 2,721.

At the open in Europe, the FTSE was up 1.3% to 4,477. The Dax rose 1.8% to 5,029. The CAC 40 rose 1.7% to 3,333.

Data from MarketWatch and Reuters.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 24/7 Wall St.