Markets UpBy Jeremy Gaunt, European Investment Correspondent
LONDON (Reuters) - Investors sent European and Japanese stock prices sharply higher on Thursday, a day after taking steep losses, while some calm returned to currency markets and demand for riskier bonds jumped.
Continuing a roller-coaster ride that began in late February, bourses in Europe and Asia took their cue from a rebounding Wall Street to indulge in a buying spree.
The FTSEurofirst 300 (.FTEU3: Quote, Profile, Research) index of top European shares was up 1.5 percent, having fallen 2.6 percent on Wednesday.
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Among national indexes, Britain's FTSE 100 (.FTSE: Quote, Profile, Research) was up 1.5 percent, Germany's DAX (.GDAXI: Quote, Profile, Research) rose 1.6 percent, and France's CAC 40 (.FCHI: Quote, Profile, Research) was up 1.4 percent.
Earlier, Tokyo's Nikkei (.N225: Quote, Profile, Research) closed up 1.1 percent at 16,860.39, after a 3 percent loss a day earlier, and the broad TOPIX (.TOPX: Quote