Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Tuesday.
EUROPE STOCK EXCHANGE: European stocks closed at their highest level in more than three years, boosted by basic resources issues such as BHP Billiton and a rally in utility E.ON, which sold its stake in Degussa.
Degussa rallied 13 percent to a six-year-high at 43.75 euros after German mining group RAG agreed to buy E.ON's 43-percent stake in the German specialty chemicals group for around 2.8 billion euros ($3.4 billion). The pan-European FTSEurofirst index of 300 blue chips ended 0.3 percent stronger at 1,270.96 points, its strongest close since April 2002.
FRANKFURT STOCK EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5,356.6 points, up 6.42 or 0.12 percent.
PARIS STOCK EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4,703.48 points, up 8.62 or 0.18 percent.
ZURICH STOCK EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7,516.69 points, down 16.2 or 0.22 percent.
MILAN STOCK EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 26,710 points, up 110 or 0.41 percent.
SYDNEY STOCK EXCHANGE: Australian shares rose to a new closing high led by gains in Telstra and mining stocks, with investors betting on China-led demand for metals to spill into the New Year. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 16.9 points, or 0.36 percent, to end at 4,672.3.
JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE: Gold stocks and oil firm Sasol dragged the South African bourse off its peak in the face of a stronger rand currency and lower prices for their products. The All-share index closed at 17,761.64 points, down 108.21 or 0.61 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,415.24 points, down 74.22 or 2.98 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 12,660.49 points, down 27.95 or 0.22 percent.