The single currency, euro, rose on speculation that a Greek debt deal was close at hand. On the other hand, global equity markets surged on enthusiasm of investors over positive manufacturing data from China, the United States, and Germany.

After a report showed that U.S. manufacturing activity grew at its strongest pace in seven months in January, U.S. blue chips jumped more than 1 percent.

"Manufacturing numbers are what the market is jumping on," said John Manley, chief equity strategist at Wells Fargo Funds Management in New York.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 144.63 points, or 1.14 percent, at 12,777.54. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was up 17.42 points, or 1.33 percent, at 1,329.83. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was up 41.05 points, or 1.46 percent, at 2,854.89. MSCI's all-country world stock index .MIWD00000PUS jumped 1.5 percent, while the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares .FTEU3 closed up 1.9 percent at 1,057.08 points after earlier hitting its highest level since early August.

"The overall economy lacks oomph and is having trouble creating jobs. Manufacturing is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing story," said Cary Leahey, managing director at Decision Economics.

"People are believing a Greek deal is imminent," said Dean Popplewell, chief currency strategist at OANDA in Toronto. "They are probably overzealous on that, and we are still in the same tight trading range."