<p>Spain's main IBEX index outperformed its counterparts in Europe, trading 1.4 percent higher at 8,051, while the yield on the country's 10-year bond fell 0.27 percentage point to a manageable 5.50 percent.</p><p>Elsewhere in Europe, Germany's DAX rose 0.2 percent to 7,391, while the CAC-40 in France was 0.4 percent higher at 3,513. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was up 0.6 percent higher at 5,907.</p><p>Hopes that the uncertainty over Spain will come to an end soon come a day before EU leaders gather in Brussels, and once again the debt crisis is likely to feature heavy in discussions.</p><p>"Markets will be watching the headlines for any signs of progress towards further assistance for Greece or Spain," said Nick Bennenbroek, an analyst at Wells Fargo Bank.</p><p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/asia-stocks-rise-on-better-than-expected-results-spain-thought-to-be-close-to-bailout-request/2012/10/16/72c6e574-180c-11e2-a346-f24efc680b8d_story.html">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/17/us-markets-global-idUSBRE88901C20121017">Euro, shares gain as Spain dodges rating downgrade</a> (Reuters)</p><p><a href="http://247wallst.com/2012/10/17/whats-important-in-the-financial-world-10172012/">What&#039;s Important in the Financial World (10/17/2012)</a> (24/7 Wall St.)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dGIbOWUcNfXLsIMUe6Tub3yd24ISM&ned=us">2,056 additional articles.</a></p>