LONDON — European and Asian stocks rose today ahead of expected gains on Wall Street, as investors cheered Chinese economic data and comments by U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner that the financial sector no longer required some government support measures.

In Asia, most indexes closed higher, while Wall Street appeared ready to edge up on the open.

Shanghai's index jumped more than 2 percent after China said industrial output, investment, loans and retail sales remained strong in August, supported by colossal stimulus measures.

The figures showed China's fast-growing economy was keeping up its momentum despite still-lackluster exports as Western demand continues to flag. The news also eased investor worries that the government was moving to restrict the surge in bank lending that's been behind this year's growth and stock market and property boom.

"There's still a lot of momentum in China's economy," said Kelvin Lau, regional economist at Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong. "Going forward the question will be whether they can achieve a more balanced and stable recovery."

Also boosting investor confidence was the U.S. Treasury's announcement that the government will unwind some of its programs to support the financial system and that banks will repay $50 billion in rescue funds over the next 18 months.

Geithner, testifying before a congressional panel, said the nation still has a ways to go before "true recovery takes hold." But he said improved conditions in the banking industry have prompted Treasury to begin winding down emergency support programs implemented after the collapse of Lehman Brothers a year ago.