GLOBAL MARKETS OVERVIEW

got this in my email yest.

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STOCKS
Global investors jumped into equities for the second day in a row on Tuesday, dumping relatively safer assets as they took comfort from concerted efforts by governments to shore up the financial system. Much of the trading was unwinding panic moves from last week when fears about the worst financial crisis in nearly 80 years swept across the world. Wall Street looked set to follow Europe and Asia higher. European shares were up more than 5 percent. Japan's Nikkei, which was not traded on Monday because of a holiday, gained more than 14 percent. MSCI's main world stock index was up 3.8 percent, gaining more than 12 percent for the week to date after plunging 20 percent last week.
Until this week's rally, the index had lost 47 percent of its value -- more than $20 trillion -- from an all-time high roughly a year ago. Its emerging market stock counterpart was up 5.4 percent on the day, adding to Monday's 7.4 percent gain. Investments seen recently as relatively safe compared with stocks -- the Japanese yen and government bonds -- fell. If we can do that, with a combination of the measures that have already been put in place and further interest rate cuts from the central banks, then we could be reaching a turning point.
The United States will announce plans later in the day to inject $250 billion into its banks, following similar moves by Britain, France, Germany and others on Monday. Japan also joined the global push, saying it could inject public funds into regional banks to make sure small firms can get cash.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index was up 5.3 percent points after its strongest one-day percentage rise on record -- 10.1 percent -- on Monday. Market players are hoping that the crisis has reached a turnaround point thanks to the extensive aid programs. Earlier, Japan's benchmark Nikkei surged 14.2 percent or 1,171.14 points to 9,447.57. The broader Topix gained 13.7 percent to 956.30.

GOLD
Gold retreated from highs hit earlier in the session on Tuesday as equity markets rallied and the dollar edged off lows against the euro. Other precious metals remained strong, with platinum climbing more than six percent and silver four percent to session highs, supported by a broad-based commodities rally. Spot gold was quoted at $835.10/838.10, against $830.80 in late New York trade on Monday. Earlier it jumped 2 percent to a session high of $853.50 an ounce. Uncertainty in equities made gold's near-term direction hard to call, but traditionally, when you see the Dow Jones and the FTSE do well, people sell gold.

CRUDE OIL
Oil rose more than $3 on Tuesday, extending the previous session's 4 percent gain, as investors' confidence over government moves to shore up banks offset expectations of a global recession. Global markets powered ahead, with European and Asian markets following Wall Street's lead after governments around the world bet hundreds of billions of dollars to shore up ailing banks.U.S. crude gained $3.11 to $84.30 a barrel , just off a session high of $84.53, as concerns over the impact of the financial crisis on oil demand eased. London Brent crude rose $2.60 to $80.06. Oil prices are being heavily influenced by financial markets.