Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Monday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares hit their highest closing levels in a week, with ABN AMRO leading bank stocks higher as sources said Barclays was considering a bid for the Dutch bank.
ABN jumped 9.7 percent to a record close, while the UK's Barclays fell 0.8 percent. Barclays acknowledged speculation about its interest in ABN, which sources familiar with the matter said involved a merger blueprint to create a global bank worth about $160 billion, and said it would clarify its position before stock markets open on Tuesday. Several other banks have also expressed an interest in ABN, sources told Reuters on Sunday.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 6,671.41 points, up 91.54 or 1.39 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5,458.95 points, up 76.79 or 1.43 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 8,841.7 points, up 124.07 or 1.42 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 31,568 points, up 450 or 1.45 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares shed early losses to rise 0.4 percent after a $2 billion take-over bid for Bendigo Bank Ltd sparked hopes of more deals in the sector, while mining stocks rose on stronger base metal prices. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 23.4 points to 5,859.7 after falling as much as 0.3 percent earlier.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African shares closed stronger as investors welcomed a take-over deal by industrial and retail group Steinhoff. The All-share index closed at 26,161.53 points, up 322.4 or 1.25 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,884.81 points, up 49.24 or 1.74 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 18,303.45 points, up 159.37 or 0.88 percent.
JAKARTA STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Jakarta Stock Exchange was closed on Monday for the Hindu New Year.