Apple lifts global stockmarkets

Stocks on Wall Street rose for a second day, buoyed by an earnings surprise from Apple and gains in overseas markets.

Apple jumped 9% after easily outstripping forecasts for its second-quarter earnings and revenue from booming sales of its iPhone and iPads.

The announcement, after the close in trading on Tuesday, sent stock markets higher around the world.

Apple shares topped $US600, adding $US50 billion to its market value and its biggest one-day rise since Novermber 2008

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 89.46 points, or 0.7%, to 13,091.02 at the close (8am NZ time).

The S&P 500 index surged 1.4% to 1390.74 while the Nasdaq Composite rocketed 2.3%, to 3029.63, its biggest gain in four months. Both are heavily weighted toward Apple.

Other markets: Europe, Asia higher
European markets were broadly higher.

The Stoxx Europe 600 closed 1% at 256.96, as strong results from Apple and some European companies helped offset data showing that the UK fell into recession during the first quarter.

France's CAC-40 index jumped 2% to 3233.46 and Germany's DAX finished up 1.7% at 6704.50. But London's FTSE 100 lagged gains, edging up just 0.2% to 5718.89.

Asian markets were also mostly higher.

Japan's Nikkei Stock Average closed up 1%, breaking its four-session losing streak, at 9561.01.

Taiwan's Taiex gained 0.9% to 7563.18 and China's Shanghai Composite Index finished 0.8% higher at 2406.81.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slipped 0.2% to 20646.29 and the Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensitive Index ended down 0.3% at 17151.29.

Commodities: Oil up, gold down
Oil futures eked out a gain after US Federal Reserve officials reiterated plans to keep interest rates near zero for the next two years.

Light, sweet crude for June delivery settled 57USc, or 0.6%, higher at $US104.12 a barrel in New York. Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange rose 78USc, or 0.7%, to $US118.94 a barrel.

Gold futures slipped to around $US1640 an ounce.

Currencies: US dollar rises
The US dollar was modestly higher after the Fed left rates unchanged.

The euro was at $US1.3192 from $US1.3197 late on Tuesday.

The dollar was at ¥81.42 from ¥81.32, while the euro fetched ¥107.49 from ¥107.31.

The dollar changed hands at 0.9106 Swiss franc from 0.9105 franc and the pound traded at $US1.6141 compared with $US1.6145.