Around the World's Markets: NEW YORK

WALL STREET raced to its strongest gains in three weeks yesterday, boosted by economic data that heightened expectations for lower interest rates even as they raised hopes that the economy would avoid recession.

Stocks rallied after the release of monthly US Labor Department jobs data, part of which was out a day early after it accidentally appeared on a government Internet site. The Dow ended up 132.33 points at 8,915.47, and the Nasdaq composite was up 13 points, 0.74 per cent, at 1,837.