As it happend: ASX surges nearly 3pc in best session for eight weeks

Summary

• Futures point to gains of more than 1.5pc on Wall Street indices tonight. 
• Hong Kong and Tokyo benchmark indices outperforming Australia, but China's CSI300 is up only 0.8 per cent. 
• Westpac, ANZ, NAB up 4 per cent in early afternoon, CBA up 1.7 per cent. 
• Brent rose 1.1 per cent to $US35.53 a barrel and US oil 1.4 per cent to $US33.72