London shares built on gains Tuesday as Chinese markets bounced back and European economic data cheered traders.
Stocks in Shanghai finished in positive territory after dealers took heart from better-than-expected trade data.
For August, the country’s imports fell by 13.8% in US dollar denominated terms whilst exports tumbled 5.5%, but the import figures still topped estimates.
IG market analyst David Madden said: "Chinese economic data has been so disappointing lately, dealers will jump on any remotely positive news to justify their bargain hunting."
The FTSE 100 Index rose 86.9 points to 6161. The Dax gained 203 points and the CAC-40 was up 76.7 points.
But some analysts voiced caution, saying they believed the Chinese government may still be manipulating the market by getting traders to buy shares.
Connor Campbell at Spreadex said: "It appears that, for all the statements and reports to the contrary, the Chinese government will continue to get its select band of market warriors to buoy the index and keep up the artifice of a healthy stock market."
Eurozone economic growth in the first and second quarter was better than initially thought, with Q1 GDP being revised up to 0.5% and Q2 up to 0.4%.
On Wall Street, the S&P is expected to open 40 points higher, the Dow Jones Industrial Average 326 points higher and the Nasdaq 90 points higher.
The better-than-expected Chinese import numbers buoyed miners, with Anglo American (LON:AAL) rising 14.4p to 692.1p, Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) advancing 35.5p and BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) increasing 19.5p to 1085p.
Premier Inn and Costa Coffee owner Whitbread (LON:WTB) was 113p off at 4598p as sales took a worse-than-expected hit from a wet August.
Sound Oil (LON:SOU) ticked up 0.25p to 16p on news that preparations for a well at the Tendrara project, onshore Morocco, had reached an advanced stage.
Fastjet shares flew 2p lower to 97.5p as it launched Malawi flights.
Insurer Amlin (LON:AML) soared 162p to 654.5p as it received a takeover bid from Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance.
Cambria Africa (LON:CMB) ticked up 0.32p to 1.15p after trading resumed following publication of the Zimbabawe-focused investor's accounts and half-year results.