A broad advance in US shares jolted the Nasdaq 100 index above its July peak, another trace of recovery from the equity meltdown in summer.

The index rose 1.2%, extending its advance from the August 25 low to 17%, making it the first major index of US stocks to regain a multiyear high reached earlier this year. Also, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index remains more than 1% from its May 21 high of 2,130.82. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 2.6%.

Increases in the index have come from the largest computer and software firms. Amazon surged 35%, Microsoft leaped 32%, and Facebook added 24%. Apple Inc. has rallied 17% after it dropped 21% in the summer rout.

US shares joined a global rally in stocks as manufacturing activity in China slowed, which subdued demand from equity investors looking for signs of strength elsewhere.

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