Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPEAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares fell for the 10th session in the last 11 as a relief rally for battered banks was not enough to offset declines for other sectors, notably energy and drugmakers. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares fell 0.7 percent to 769.15 points, its lowest close in more than two months.
It ended the day just 1 percent above its lowest close since April 2003. Energy stocks were a major drag on the index, though crude prices rose to more than $42 a barrel. They have still fallen more than 70 percent below their peak - more than $147 reached in the summer of 2008 - on worries of slowing demand in the face of world-wide economic turmoil.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 4,261.15 points, up 21.3 or 0.50 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 2,905.57 points, down 19.71 or 0.67 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 5,304.17 points, down 16.83 or 0.32 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 14,103 points, down 256 or 1.78 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian stocks fell 1 percent to a near two-month closing low as investors braced themselves for the world recession to further hit company profits after global miner BHP Billiton cut back operations. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 34 points to 3,442.8, a level last seen on November 24.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South Africa's rand clawed back some ground against the dollar, lifted by a rebound in US stocks following a plunge overnight. The All-share index closed at 20,049 points, down 246.07 or 1.21 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,241.87 points, down 2.89 or 0.13 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 15,826.19 points, down 74.16 or 0.47 percent.