Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Monday.
EUROPE STOCK EXCHANGE: European shares slumped to a three-and-a-half year closing low, with banks weighing heavily, as the fallout from the credit crisis escalated on both sides of the Atlantic. Financials were battered by news of the part nationalisation of two major European banks, and the sale of Wachovia Corp's bank operations to Citigroup, in addition to ongoing liquidity concerns.
Fears were not offset by optimism that a US rescue plan could solve the financial sector's problems, as US lawmakers met to vote on the $700 billion bailout proposal. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed down 5.23 percent at 1,047.04 points - its lowest closing level since January 2005.
FRANKFURT STOCK EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5,807.08 points, down 256.42 or 4.23 percent.
PARIS STOCK EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3,953.48 points, down 209.9 or 5.04 percent.
ZURICH STOCK EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 6,500.13 points, down 315.39 or 4.63 percent.
MILAN STOCK EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 19,622 points, down 976 or 4.74 percent.
SYDNEY STOCK EXCHANGE: Australian shares gave up early gains and ended down two percent, as top miners and banks fell on a view the US government's planned $700 billion fund to buy bad debt would not ease wider economic problems. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 97.4 points to 4,807.4.
JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE: South African markets took a pounding, hit by a global stocks fall and a flight from risk, with investors worried about the stability of US and European banks. The All-share index closed at 23,087.67 points, down 1412.27 or 5.76 percent. The All Gold index closed at 1,806.29 points, down 83.49 or 4.42 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 17,101.48 points, down 664.3 or 3.74 percent.
SHANGHAI STOCK EXCHANGE: China's stock and financial markets were closed from Monday for a week-long national holiday. Trading will resume on Monday, October 6.