January 02, 2013 World shares hit their highest level since July 2011 on Wednesday after U.S. markets jumped sharply in response to the deal to prevent a fiscal crunch from sending the giant economy back into recession. MSCI's global share index rose to 346.57 points shortly after Wall Street opened, a peak not seen since July 8, 2011 after which a resurgence in the euro zone debt crisis sparked a sharp sell-off in global equity markets. Wednesday's gains come after the MSCI global index added 13.5 percent in 2012 - its best year since 2009.

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