Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European stocks ended at their lowest close in 1-1/2 years, as investors' relief following the surprise hefty US interest rate cut quickly vanished and fears of more mortgage-related writedowns hit banks again.
Shares of energy companies were among the biggest laggards, sinking along with crude oil prices on persistent worries over a US recession. Royal Dutch Shell shed 4.8 percent, Total fell 5.8 percent and Repsol lost 3.2 percent.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed down 3.2 percent at 1,262.40 points, after falling more than 4 percent during the session.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 6439.21 points, down 330.26 or 4.88 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4636.76 points, down 205.78 or 4.25 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7356.13 points, down 131.79 or 1.76 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 24882 points, down 979 or 3.79 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares rebounded 4.35 percent, ending a 12-day losing streak, after the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates in a surprise move to calm investors worried about the US economy. The S&P/ASX 200 climbed 225.5 points to end at 5,412.3.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African stocks slid further on renewed recession fears after fresh signs of trouble in the US economy and hawkish remarks from the head of European Central Bank, which also affected the currency market. The All-share index closed at 25135.13 points, down 262.04 or 1.03 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2479.46 points, down 23.97 or 0.96 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 17343.47 points, down 383.89 or 2.17 percent.
KUALA LUMPUR STOCKS EXCHANGE: Malaysia's financial markets were closed on Wednesday for the Thaipusam Hindu festival. They will reopen on Thursday.