Investors boosted by an increase in consumer confidence

The pound is facing fresh downward pressure as officials struggle to reach a Brexit deal despite a deadline being just weeks away. [Photo: Courtesy]

World stock markets rallied Wednesday with no "Halloween horrors" as investors were boosted by runaway US consumer confidence, dealers said.

By early afternoon, Frankfurt was up 1.2 percent, London won 1.5 percent and Paris surged 2.1 percent, with shares in French cosmetics giant L'Oreal soaring 6.5 percent on strong sales.