Around the World's Markets: New York

AS EUROPEAN bourses closed, the Dow Jones index fell 144.37 or about 1.3 per cent to 10,546.55, as signs of a stronger global economy triggered widespread selling.

Analysts said the market was dragged lower by news that Japan's economy had broken its 18-month run of negative growth, adding to worries about inflation.

The bounce in Japan's GDP put further pressure on US bonds, boosting the yield on the key 30-year T-bond above 6 per cent - the highest in more than a year.