NEW YORK, Jan 29 — Financial markets rebounded outside Asia yesterday following a global sell-off fuelled by the deadly virus outbreak in China.

Wall Street stocks were up, with the broad-based S&P 500 gaining 1.0 per cent and the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index advancing 1.4 per cent.

In Europe, the main stock markets also closed with gains of close to 1.0 per cent after shedding around 2.5 per cent on Monday.

The healthy US result was aided by defense contractors Lockheed Martin and United Technologies releasing healthy results that underpinned market sentiment, along with strong gains for several travel-oriented stocks, including Marriott International and Wynn Resorts.

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Apple stock rose 2.8 per cent after the market closed, following its announcement of record high fourth quarter revenue of US$91.8 billion with a profit of US$22 billion, according to earnings figures.

The dollar gained against most other major currencies, and oil prices were higher as well.

The US rally was aided by a report from the Conference Board showing US consumer confidence jumping more than expected in January.

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Wall Street and European markets posted losses of around 2 per cent on Monday fuelled amid fears that the SARS-like virus outbreak in China was spreading fast.

As traders sought safety, for example buying into gold, oil tanked on expectations that demand in China, the world’s top consumer, will be hammered.

But the improvement yesterday shows there is “some optimism that’s crept into the market that maybe this coronavirus won’t spread enough out of control to really create a major epidemic crisis,” said LBBW’s Karl Haeling.

Potential for further declines

But Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com, warned markets remain “open to further falls if it becomes clear that infection is spreading more rapidly, but for now equity markets are entering a process of stabilisation.”

China yesterday urged citizens to postpone foreign travel to curb the viral outbreak that has killed more than 100 people, as the first cases of human-to-human contagion were detected abroad.

Washington also urged its citizens to “reconsider” travel plans to China, and United Airlines announced it will trim its service to the country from three US cities, citing a large drop in demand.

The virus outbreak comes during the Lunar New Year break when hundreds of millions of people crisscross China and spend huge amounts of money.

Analysts were concerned the crisis could become as bad as the SARS outbreak that rocked markets and the global economy 17 years ago.

It comes just as the world economy showed signs of stability after a long-running growth slowdown.

Key figures around 2200 GMT

New York - DOW: UP 0.7 per cent at 28,722.85 (close)

New York - S&P 500: UP 1 per cent at 3,276.24 (close)

New York - Nasdaq: UP 1.4 per cent at 9,269.68 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.9 per cent at 7,480.69 points (close)

Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.9 per cent at 13,323.69 (close) 

Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.1 per cent at 5,925.82 (close) 

EURO STOXX 50: UP 1.13 per cent at 3,719.22 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.6 per cent at 23,215.71 (close)

Seoul - Kospi: DOWN 3.1 per cent at 2,175.77 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: Closed for a public holiday 

Shanghai - Composite: Closed for a public holiday

Brent Crude: UP 1.2 per cent at US$60.02 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.6 per cent at US$53.98

Dollar/yen: UP at ¥109.12 from ¥108.90 Monday

Euro/dollar: UP at US$1.1021 from US$1.1019

Pound/dollar: DOWN at US$1.3025 from US$1.3057

Euro/pound: UP at 84.58 pence from 84.39 pence — AFP