On the US markets, major indices ended the day with gains due to an ease in China's cash crunch along with a downward revision in the growth rate of US gross domestic product which soothed investors' concerns that the Federal Reserve would begin to withdraw its stimulus in the near future.
On the European front, the British benchmark indices rose with comments from European Central Bank President Mario Draghi that an exit from the central bank's exceptional monetary policy measures remains distant along with China's central bank pledge to prevent a credit crunch. Banks were the top gainers on expectations that the continuation of an easy monetary policy in Europe will help the sector.
Nikkei opened the session in the green due to overnight gains in Wall Street on the back of economic data coming in from US along which led to speculation that the Federal Reserve will not scale back stimulus anytime soon. A strengthening dollar supported the rise further.