Stocks on both sides of the Atlantic advanced as investors found value after the recent slump and fresh assurances from central bankers in both China and the US.
US economic data provided evidence of further strength, as reports on durable goods orders, sales of new homes, home prices and consumer confidence all beat analysts' expectations. Also helping was a promise from China's central bank that it will keep money-market rates at a "reasonable" level.
In late afternoon trading in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.73 per cent, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 1 per cent and the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 0.68 per cent.
In Europe, the benchmark Stoxx 600 Index climbed 1 per cent from the previous close. The UK's FTSE 100 increased 1.2 per cent, France's CAC 40 rose 1.5 per cent and Germany's DAX closed with a 1.6 per cent gain.
"There's a lot of great buying opportunities that were created in the last few days and I think investors will step in and take advantage of that," Keith Bliss, senior vice-president at Cuttone & Co in New York, told Reuters.