Emerging markets to spur stocks

Booming emerging markets will spearhead any further rise of global stock indexes in 2012, as the growth spurt enjoyed by some major Western markets since the start of the year peters out, Reuters polls found yesterday. Following a torrid 2011 that wiped trillions of dollars off global bourses, the 380 equity strategists surveyed over the last 10 days were generally in upbeat mood following an exceptionally strong start to the year. All of the 20 top stock indexes from developed and emerging markets are expected to finish this year with solid gains, led by the likes of Russia, Japan, Brazil, India and China. An easing of the Eurozone debt crisis, helped at least for now by over a trillion euros pumped into the banking system by the European Central Bank over the past three months, was behind the increased confidence. From gulfnews