• The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 150.52 points, or 0.73 percent, to 20,701.5, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 16.98 points, or 0.73 percent, to 2,358.57 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 34.77 points, or 0.6percent, to 5,875.14.
U.S. stocks ended sharply higher on Tuesday, with financial and energy shares surging as data showed U.S. consumer confidence soaring to a more than 16-year high.
• U.S. consumer confidence surged to a more than 16-year high in March amid growing labor market optimism, while the trade deficit in goods narrowed sharply in February. The economy's strengthening fundamentals were bolstered by other data showing further increases in house prices in January.
• Asian shares inched ahead on Wednesday while the dollar and commodities rallied as investors shook off disappointment about U.S. President Donald Trump's failed healthcare bill and focused on an improving outlook for global growth.
The cheerful mood did not extend to the pound which was on the skids as the British government sent a letter to Brussels formally starting the country's exit from the European Union.
• MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS edged up 0.2 percent and back toward recent 21-month peaks. Australia's main index climbed 0.6 percent to its highest since mid-2015.
• Japan's Nikkei .N225 added 0.1 percent, having climbed over 1 percent the previous day.
Reference: Reuters
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