Markets end week on bright note as dealers digest US data

After Asia earlier notched up gains, markets looked set to end an upbeat week across global trading floors on moderate highs, with the focus turning to the start of China's annual policy gathering. After a miserable start to the year for investors, March has so far been a ray of sunshine thanks to some positive US data and Beijing's decision to ease monetary policy, dealers said. A pick-up in oil prices -- which in January were near 13-year lows below $30 a barrel -- has also provided some stabi