nikkei 225

The FTSE 100 got off to a positive start on Monday, with shares shrugging off weak data from both China and Japan to move higher.

Markets across Asia started the week brightly as traders bet the withdrawal of Fed chair candidate Larry Summers' could slow the US' curtailment of quantitative easing.

The volatility in markets continued overnight as stocks around the globe rebounded, led by Japan where the Nikkei jumped nearly 2%.

Markets surged overnight on news Japan revised its annualised growth rate to 4.1% - up from an estimated 3.5%.

Asian markets fell again overnight over uncertainty around US employment numbers out later today.

Japan's Nikkei 225 has suffered its second huge fall in a little over a week after the index closed down 5% overnight.

Japanese shares have clawed back some of their losses after falling more than 7% yesterday in a dramatic trading session.

The Bank of Japan's announcement of aggressive growth stimulus measures on Thursday pushed up the flagging Nikkei and caused the yen to fall sharply against the US dollar.

Asian markets tumbled overnight and safe-haven bond yields fell following news EU member Cyprus is to impose an unprecedented bank levy on deposits held in the country.

The UK's blue chip index is trading back near a five-year high this morning after a near 1% gain, as a bumper set of results lift shares.