Trading volume was light on Wall St as investors await results of an election that will set the course of the United States for the next four years on spending, taxes, healthcare and other policies.
The Dow Jones Index was up 152 points, or 1.2%, at13,265 and the Nasdaq Composite was up 16 points, or 0.5%, at 3016.
Strong earnings reports boosted European markets. The FTSE in London was up 0.79%, the DAX in Frankfurt was up 0.7% and the CAC-40 in Paris was up 0.87%.
The Australian 200 Index closed up 10 points on Tuesday at 4,485 and the NZX50 index rose 19 points, or 0.5%, to close at 3928.
At 8.30am on Wednesday, the New Zealand dollar was trading at 82.85 US cents, 79.34 Australian cents, 51.76 pence, 66.62 yen and 0.6461 euro. The Trade Weighted Index was at 74.09.
Brent crude oil was trading at $US109.60 per barrel and gold was trading at $US1710.69 per ounce.
