The DAX index ended at 4699.27 points, up 19.38 or 0.41 percent. PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 4370.88 points, up 27.26 or 0.63 percent. ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6449.18 points, up 55.34 or 0.87 percent. MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 25466 points, up 137 or 0.54 percent. TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.90 percent to a 14-week closing high as investors, encouraged by strong earnings by U.S. tech firms, bought Tokyo Electron and other technology shares. The benchmark Nikkei ended up 104.42 points at 11,764.26. HONG KONG - Hong Kong stocks surged 1.3 percent to their highest level in over four years, with blue chips boosted on pre-earnings optimism and fading rate hike worries. The blue-chip Hang Seng Index rose 1.29 percent, or 184.24 points, to 14,491.54. SYDNEY - Australian stocks rose for a second straight day, buoyed by banks like Commonwealth as investors sought safety in defensive sectors less prone to earnings volatility. --More 2251 Local Time 1951 GMT
