Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Tuesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares fell as a surge in US inflation prompted investors to take cash off the table after the market's rapid climb to 28-month highs. Other factors weighing on the market included HSBC which fell on news of poor results at the global bank's US operation Household International.
The stock, which hit a three-year high on Monday, fell 2.8 percent to 926-1/2 pence. Autos were also among the hardest hit as European consumers bought fewer cars last month, while French engineering firm Alstom sank 7.8 percent, down for a second day in heavy trading ahead of its earnings on Thursday.
And plans by Vodafone Group to hand 6.0 billion pounds ($11.12 billion) back to shareholders failed to inspire investors in the world's biggest mobile phone company by revenue.
Vodafone fell 0.5 percent to 142 pence as analysts said the payout had been widely anticipated. The FTSEurofirst 300 index ended off 0.6 percent at 1,027.18 points in good volume.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 4,117.22 points, down 17.12 or 0.41 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3,794.27 points, down 26.7 or 0.70 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 5,653.6 points, down 20.7 or 0.36 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 22,206 points, down 136 or 0.61 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Stocks eased as falls in the biggest companies outweighed record highs in building products maker Rinker and take-over target WMC Resources. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index ended down 0.29 percent or 11.2 points to 3,869.4.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares fell as a rampant rand hit resource stocks, with Sasol falling 3.77 percent, also hit by weaker oil prices. The All-share index closed at 12,215.2 points, down 48.67 or 0.40 percent.
The All Gold index closed at 1,945.12 points, down 4.66 or 0.24 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 9,057.75 points, down 8.66 or 0.10 percent.