A roundup of trading on major world markets:

NEW YORK – US equities have powered to fresh records after the Bank of Japan’s surprise stimulus ignited a rally on global stock exchanges.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average leaped 195.10 points (1.13 per cent) to 17,390.52, surpassing the prior record by more than 100 points.

The S&P 500 surged 23.40 (1.17 per cent) to 2,018.05, almost seven points above its prior peak, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite rose 64.60 (1.41 per cent) to 4,630.74, its highest close of the year.

The BoJ announced on Friday it would add up to Y20 trillion ($A211.09 billion) to its current asset-buying scheme, bringing it to Y80 trillion annually in an unexpected shift aimed at reviving growth just as the US Federal Reserve winds down its own stimulus spree.

LONDON – European stocks surged as the Bank of Japan’s surprise stimulus sent investors on a buying spree.

London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index closed 1.28 per cent up at 6,546.47 points, while in Paris, the CAC jumped 2.22 per cent to 4,233.09 points and Frankfurt’s Dax gained 2.33 per cent to 9,326.87.

However, the euro dived below $US1.25 for the first time for more than two years, driven by speculation that the Fed could raise interest rates sooner than expected.

HONG KONG – Asian markets rallied and the US dollar pushed past 111 yen after Japan’s central bank said it would expand its vast monetary easing scheme and the United States released forecast-busting economic growth data.

Japanese stocks clocked up gains of almost five per cent to sit at a seven-year high after the Bank of Japan announced its surprise decision in a bid to drag the economy back from the brink of recession.

The Nikkei jumped 4.83 per cent, adding 755.56 points to 16,413.76 – its highest since November 2007 – with buying further boosted by a report that country’s vast national pension fund would double its domestic equities holdings. The index is now in positive territory for the year to date.

Sydney closed up 0.92 per cent, or 50.4 points, at 5,526.6 and Seoul tacked on 0.28 per cent, or 5.50 points, to end at 1,964.43.

Hong Kong climbed 1.25 per cent, or 296.02 points, to 23,998.06 while Shanghai jumped 1.22 per cent, or 29.10 points, to 2,420.18 – its highest since February last year.

WELLINGTON – The NZX 50 Index rose 17.654 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 5387.834.