Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European share markets meandered to a steady close as dealers squared their books on the last full trading day before Christmas, while a fresh record high in the euro capped sentiment after recent equity gains.
Dutch retailer Ahold was a standout, adding 2.7 percent to 5.71 euros after agreeing to sell two US food retail chains for $660 million.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of pan-European blue chips closed unchanged at 1,041.3 points, having traded in a very narrow, 4-point range throughout the day.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 4,251.62 points, up 10.34 or 0.24 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3,819.68 points, up 13.53 or 0.36 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 5,695.2 points, up 7.5 or 0.13 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 23,475 points, up 63 or 0.27 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Stocks closed softer as a recent strong run succumbed to weaker metals prices and position-squaring ahead of the holidays. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index ended 6.4 points, or 0.16 percent, lower at 4025.9. The market will be open for half a day on Friday.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Mining shares weighed on South Africa's bourse as a robust rand took the shine off giants Anglo American Plc, BHP Billiton and Gold Fields, but banks rallied in a mixed day of trading.
The All-share index closed at 12,504.06 points, up 7.96 or 0.06 percent. The All Gold index closed at 1,605.65 points, down 18.69 or 1.15 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 9,643.36 points, up 21.09 or 0.22 percent.
TOKYO STOCKS EXCHANGE: Japanese financial markets were closed on Thursday for a national holiday. Trade will resume on Friday. The Nikkei had ended Wednesday up 83.52 points at 11,209.44.