Wednesday 24th June

European shares finished the day sharply higher, up almost three percent.

Among the factors boosting shares, the European Central Bank lent banks almost half a trillion euros and the Swiss National Bank was seen selling Swiss francs. Analysts said that indicates that there is demand for funds and suggests that there is money going into the economy.

There was also a relatively optimistic economic outlook from the OECD and news from the US that orders for durable goods rose by a much-stronger-than expected 1.8 percent in May.

Banks were the biggest gainers and miners were also higher.

Oil prices rose supported by word of a bigger-than-expected fall in stockpiles of US crude and growing geopolitical troubles in some OPEC member countries.

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tags: Europe, Markets