Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCK EXCHANGE: European stocks powered on to a new 4-1/2 year high, led by industrials and retailer Next, with the broad market cheered by signals the US interest rate tightening cycle might be near its end. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index ended up 0.98 percent at 1,301.48 points, its highest since August 2001.
FRANKFURT STOCK EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5,523.62 points, up 62.94 or 1.15 percent.
PARIS STOCK EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4,838.52 points, up 61.54 or 1.29 percent.
ZURICH STOCK EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7,723.71 points, up 95.15 or 1.25 percent.
MILAN STOCK EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 27,317 points, up 204 or 0.75 percent.
SYDNEY STOCK EXCHANGE: Shares rose nearly 1 percent, setting a second straight record closing high as strong gold and oil prices powered a rally in commodity stocks like BHP Billiton and Newcrest Mining. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index climbed 44.3 points, or 0.93 percent, to end at 4,820.3.
JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE: Stocks rose slightly as iron ore producer Kumba Resources starred, while retailers and industrials rose on expectations of good Christmas trading numbers, traders said. The All-share index closed at 18,415.34 points, up 59.64 or 0.32 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,626.62 points, up 31.18 or 1.20 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 13,143.17 points, up 69.15 or 0.53 percent.