U.S. markets were volatile throughout the day, but all major U.S. equity indexes maintained positive momentum and closed higher.

A fall in inflation to four year low of 3.32 per cent boosted trading sentiment in pre-close trading as Sensex surged to its new peak by gaining over 200 points on heavy buying by funds.

Nicholas Ferguson, one of the most important figures in UK private equity business, has criticized rules on capital gains tax that allow executives at private equity firms and some hedge funds to enjoy tax rates as low as 10 percent. This abnormal matter of facts was attacked also by a recent trade's union campaign against buy-out firms.

ING Canada announced that all conditions of its substantial issuer bid to repurchase up to $500 million of its common shares have been satisfied and that it has taken up C$500 million worth of common shares at a price of C$54.00 per share. The shares taken up represent approximately 6.9% of the common shares currently outstanding.