Frankfurt Dax: 5402.37 (+133.97)

Frankfurt shares rose sharply, clawing back a good part of the ground lost on Tuesday thanks to a technical rebound. Traders said the Frankfurt market had been reassured by Wall Street's performance in cutting losses during the last hour of trading on Tuesday.

The bond market continued to act as a safe haven, and the average bond yield fell by 0.02 of a point to 4.34 per cent.

Paris CAC- 40: 3945.70 (+99.72)

Paris, which had come a cropper in the first two sessions this week, regained 2.59 per cent as the CAC 40 index finished at 3,945.70 points. Market analysts say the corrections that have cost such markets as Paris and Frankfurt losses exceeding 10 per cent are excessive, and the trend should reverse in the coming weeks.

Milan MIBTEL: 23115 (+311)

Italian shares ended firmer but dealers are still wary, with few believing that the Asian crisis, which has hit markets hard in the past week, is yet over.