European markets have rebounded on Wednesday after a lower close from the previous session.

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Asian markets bounced from the previous session's sharp declines.

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European markets rose, with the Stoxx Europe 600 up 1.3% to recover most of the losses from the previous session, after data showed German business confidence increased much more than expected in February.

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European markets were broadly higher, with the Stoxx Europe 600 up 1.3% to recover most of the losses from the previous session, after data showed German business confidence increased much more than expected in February.

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Predictably, short-seller advocacy groups lamented the toughness and cost burdens of the new regulations, under which a trader wanting to short a particular stock has to find a price above the prevailing national best bid and offer price if the stock has already fallen 10% or more from the previous trading session.

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But Japan's Nikkei Stock Average rose 1.3%, bouncing from a slide in the previous session, as a weakening in the yen boosted exporters.

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