Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Tuesday.
EUROPEAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: European stocks fell for the third straight day, as worries persisted about financial sector balance sheets and the breadth and depth of the recession. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares fell 1.4 percent to 719.38 points, hitting its lowest close since March 2003 for the third successive day. The broader STOXX 600 index fell 1.4 percent to 172.86 points, led lower by drug stocks.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 3,895.75 points, down 40.7 or 1.03 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 2,708.05 points, down 19.82 or 0.73 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 4,723.02 points, down 74.1 or 1.54 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 12,614 points, down 25 or 0.20 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares fell 0.58 percent to a five-year closing low as banking stocks dropped on fresh worries about the financial system, while travel firm Flight Centre tumbled on a weak profit report. The S&P/ASX 200 index shed 19.6 points to 3,331.6, its lowest close since February 2004. The index is now down 10.5 percent in 2009, adding to last year's 42 percent slide.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African blue chips slid to a 3-month low on worries about the deteriorating world financial system, but the rand gained and government bonds firmed on speculation of aggressive interest rate cuts. The All-share index closed at 18,813.38 points, down 473.4 or 2.45 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,760.53 points, down 113.09 or 3.94 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 14,660.88 points, down 253.4 or 1.70 percent.