Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Monday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares fell, led by a drop in Royal Bank of Scotland shares, and Switzerland's Nestle after a disappointing update. Banks were the largest drag on the European market, after RBS confirmed in a brief statement that it was considering a rights issue, details of which could come on Tuesday.
RBS shares fell by nearly 4 percent. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares fell 1.0 percent to a close of 1,311.82 points. Declining shares outnumbered advancers by about three to one.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 6786.55 points, down 56.53 or 0.83 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4910.35 points, down 51.34 or 1.03 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7394.94 points, down 23.08 or 0.31 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 25544 points, down 166 or 0.65 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares rose 3.1 percent, logging their biggest one-day gain in a month, led up by financials such as National Australia Bank on growing optimism that the worst of the credit crisis is over. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 170.6 points to a two-week closing high of 5,600.3, the biggest one-day percentage rise since March 25.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African stocks gained, but retreated from session highs, tracking global markets and commodity prices, while the rand firmed against the dollar. The All-share index closed at 31774.1 points, up 180.03 or 0.57 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2524.22 points, down 17.99 or 0.71 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 20224.01 points, up 12.43 or 0.06 percent.