US markets opened sharply higher, buoyed by strong Chinese exports and soft US retail sales in March.
The rebound in Chinese exports gave heart to mining stocks, while the 0.3% month-on-month decline in retail sales appears to have severely diminished the prospect of a US rate rise later this month.
The blue-chip benchmark, the S&P 500, climbed 13 points to 2,075 in the first half of trading, with minerals behemoth Freeport-McMoRan Inc (NYSE:FCX) leading the way.
In the mid-cap space the S&P 400 was 10 points, or 0.7%, higher at 1,450.
The small-cap measure, the Russell 2,000, was also up 0.7%, sporting a nine point gain at 1,114.
On the Nasdaq exchange, Repros Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:RPRX) was king of the castle after reporting positive clinical data for tests on the vaginal administration of Proellex, which indicated a significant reduction in excessive menstrual bleeding.
The shares were up by a third.
Cyberoptics Corporation (NASDAQ:CYBE) was wanted after forecasting revenues of between $18.6mln and $19.1mln and strong profitability for the first quarter of 2016.
The developer and manufacturer of high precision sensing technology solutions released the guidance towards the close of business yesterday and was still reaping the benefit this morning, advancing 22% to $11.56.
On the Big Board, internet company Demand Media Inc (NYSE:DMD) jumped almost 12% to $5.86 after it completed the sale of its Cracked business to the EW Scripps company (NYSE:SSP) for $39mln in cash.
The assets sold included the humor web site Cracked.com.