Around the World's Markets: New York

THE DOW JONES index surged to close up 121.26 points, or 1.32 per cent, at 9,324.58 - its strongest increase in over a week.

It was helped by positive earnings reports, despite lingering fears that Brazil's problems could spread into Argentina and the rest of Latin America, a region of tremendous importance to the US in terms of trade and investment.

The Nasdaq index jumped 64.15 points, or 2.71 per cent, to 2,433.46, beating the record close of 2,415.49 set on 20 January.