TORONTO - Stock markets were sharply higher Wednesday on building hopes that the Chinese economy is stabilizingand can help lift other economies out of a deep downturn.
China's national legislature, the National People's Congress, convenes its annual session Thursday, with the agenda expectedto focus on a four trillion yuan or US$586-billion stimulus package and other measures to counter a deep slump that has costmillions of workers their jobs.
The TSX was supported by sharp rises in commodity stocks as investors hope for increased Chinese demand for oil and metals.
The news from China drove overseas markets higher with Japan's Nikkei stock average up 0.9 per cent, while Hong Kong's
Hang Seng index gained 2.5 per cent.
Britain's FTSE 100 was up 3.25 per cent, Germany's DAX index and France's CAC 40 jumped four per cent.
Hopeful of Better Times Ahead.
S
