Frankfurt DAX:3,791.81 (+224.59)

Germany's bruised blue chip stocks mounted a strong recovery, heartened by a dramatic turnaround on Wall Street and a rally in Asian equities, but fears of more Asian tremors restrained the market's relief.

Most of the leading stocks shied away from the day's highs yesterday despite an early surge, as comments from the US Federal Reserve chief, Mr Alan Greenspan, added to Asian concerns still overshadowing the market.

Paris CAC 40: 2818.00 (+ 166.67)

French shares staged one of the sharpest recoveries of main European markets yesterday, ending at the session peak as futures galloped ahead under the soothing influence of Mr Greenspan.

Milan 15,043 (+ 700)

Italian shares closed sharply higher after staging a strong rebound, fuelled by the dramatic turnaround in Asia and on Wall Street, but investors were wary that more volatility could be in store. The All-Share Mibtel index closed at 15043, up 700 points, or 4.88 per cent.