Optimism prevailed on Wednesday on the world markets as news of an agreement to avoid the US ‘fiscal cliff’ reached investors. Political leaders in the US need to reach an agreement before January 1st, when across-the-board budget cuts and tax increases will go into effect automatically. Economists and other analysts fear that these automatic measures, which are in place to cut the US budget deficit, will send the US economy back into recession.

After lack of progress for weeks between Democratic and Republican lawmakers, several key players in the “fiscal cliff” negotiations have made moves towards a compromise, relieving the fear investors have had that a US recession was imminent, and sending global markets on a rally.

The FTSE 100 in Britain rose by 0.3 percent to 5,954.05. The DAX in Germany increased by 0.2 percent to 7,665.20. In France the CAC-40 rose by 0.3 percent to 3,659.05. Wall Street in New York will be well-placed to open higher, while Dow Jones industrial futures went up by 0.1 percent and S&P 500 futures rose slightly to 1,441.70.