Beijing  - China's main stock market index plunged by nearly 3 per cent Tuesday despite an Asian regional rally spurred by bank bail-out deals.

The key Shanghai Composite Index, which tracks shares traded in local and foreign currencies on the larger of the mainland exchanges, lost 2.71 per cent to end the day at 2,017.32, down 56.25 points.

The smaller Shenzhen Component Index also lost nearly 2 per cent of its value after both markets made initial gains in the morning session.

Only 217 shares traded on Tuesday rose, with 1,373 falling and 120 unchanged, state media said.

Jakarta - Indonesia's stock mark

Paris - The Paris Bourse continued its strong recovery on Tuesday on news that the US government was also undertaking radical steps to shore up its banking system.

In mid-morning trade, the benchmark CAC 40 was up 4.87 per cent, to 3,703.48, with 38 of the 40 listed stocks gaining ground.

Industrials again led the way on the hope that measures undertaken by euro-zone countries, Britain and the United States would stimulate the money markets and encourage banks to resume lending.

Frankfurt - European shares charged out of the gates Tuesday after US and Asian stocks rocketed up on renewed hopes that global coordinated action will help to shore up investor and economic confidence.

Within a few minutes of opening, Europe's blue-chip Stoxx 50 had climbed 3.1 per cent to 2,393 points.

The jump in European stocks came in the wake of New York's Dow Jones Industrial Average chalking up its biggest one-day points gain in history Monday, rising 936.42 points, or 11.08 per cent, to close at 9,387.61.

Seoul - Shares rallied Tuesday on the Seoul stock exchange, tracking gains in the United States, as investors hoped that global efforts to contain the worldwide financial turmoil would pay off.

The benchmark Kospi index soared 79.16 points, or 6.1 per cent, to close at 1,367.69.

Advancing issues outpaced decliners 797 to 68.

The main index of the technology-heavy Kosdaq market rose 7.65 per cent to 396.32.

New Delhi - Indian equities surged in early trade on Tuesday on top of a strong rally the previous day as investors' sentiments were boosted following sharp gains in global bourses.

The 30-share Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange, which had gained 781.24 points on Monday, shot up by another 542.06 points, or 4.79 per cent, at 11,851.15 within minutes of trading.

The Sensex was quoted at 11,833.36, a gain of 524.27 points or 4.64 per cent at 11.30 am (0600 GMT).

Similarly, the broader 50-share Nifty index rose 4.10 per cent to 3,627, up by 136,39 points around the same time.