THE EURO and global equity markets rose yesterday as the markets were boosted by positive manufacturing data from the US, China and Germany. European stocks advanced to a six-month high, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index extending its best start to a year since 1998, boosted by the PMI figures which were in line or ahead of expectations.

MANY MARKETS across Europe declined yesterday as latest data showed the US economy grew at a slower pace in the fourth quarter than economists had predicted.

The euro was underpinned today by hopes a way would be found to push through a second bailout deal for Greece, though fresh signs of exposure to Europe's economic troubles among leading banks rekindled investor unease, sending shares lower.

 SERIOUS MONEY: THE SHARP UPTURN in stock prices since the start of the year has taken most investment professionals by surprise. Indeed, consensus opinion contained in the lengthy annual investment tomes released by brokerage houses just weeks ago, predicted that the major stock market indices would remain volatile and tread water into the summer.

The euro was underpinned today by hopes a way would be found to push through a second bailout deal for Greece, though fresh signs of exposure to Europe's economic troubles among leading banks rekindled investor unease, sending shares lower.

NOBEL PRIZE-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz has described the continued payments by the Government to unsecured bondholders as “unconscionable”.