The Dow Jones industrial average shot up more than 200 points yesterday, leaping well above 8,000, after sharp gains in stock markets abroad and on a jump in shares of drug companies.In its highest close since December 8th, the Dow gained 201.28 in heavy trading, or 2.5 per cent, to finish at 8,107.78.The all-time high of 8,259.31 was set on August 6th for the average of 30 blue-chip stocks that is Wall Street's best-known indicator.Broad-market indicators also rose sharply, with the Standard and Poor's 500 at record levels in its first close ever above 1,000. The NYSE composite index also rose to a new high.The strong gains followed up on a rally fed by optimism that Asia's financial crisis is easing. Key indexes in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Jakarta surged up 14 per cent.Drug shares also were rallying after a disclosure after markets closed on Friday that British giants SmithKline Beecham and Glaxo Wellcome were holding merger talks.