YEREVAN, May 8. /ARKA/. The Dow Jones index closed above 15,000 for the first time as strong German factory data pushed US and European share markets higher, BBC reported Wednesday.

The Dow rose 87 points to 15,056. It has been rising rapidly over the past six months, and was boosted by better-than-expected jobs figures last week.

Other world markets also gained, with Germany's Dax hitting a fresh record, rising 70 points to 8,182.

Hopes of further central bank action to boost growth also lifted sentiment.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Reserve Bank of Australia cut its benchmark interest rate to a record low 2.75%.

This followed comments on Monday from Mario Draghi, head of the European Central Bank, that the ECB stands "ready to act again" if necessary, after cutting interest rates last week.

London's FTSE 100 was up 0.6% and France's Cac 40 rose 0.4%.

Earlier, Japan's Nikkei 225 index went above 14,000 for the first time since mid-2008 as government efforts to weaken the yen boosted exporters. --0-