Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European stocks ended lower, adding to the previous day's sharp losses as oil prices soared past $132 a barrel to a fresh record, heightening inflation fears and concerns for corporate profits. UBS slid 3.5 percent on concerns over the size of its planned rights share issue.
Traders cited market talk that the Swiss lender would have to issue more shares to raise the amount of money it needed because the value of its shares has recently fallen. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 0.7 percent lower at 1,340.63 points, its lowest close since May 1.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 7,040.83 points, down 77.67 or 1.09 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5,027.55 points, down 27.33 or 0.54 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7,574.27 points, down 52.31 or 0.69 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 25,508 points, up 6 or 0.02 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares fell for a second day as fresh credit worries pressured financial firms, while miners dropped on concerns that slowing consumer spending in the US may hurt demand for commodities. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 84.7 points, or 1.43 percent, to 5,823.4, its biggest one-day percentage fall in nearly five weeks.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: The rand steadied after losing ground on Tuesday, but stocks edged down and government bonds continued to slide on inflation fears as oil surged to a new record high. The All-share index closed at 32,907.72 points, down 50.83 or 0.15 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,560.35 points, up 25.7 or 1.01 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 21,688.75 points, down 81.52 or 0.37 percent.