Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCK EXCHANGE: European shares ended below session highs as news of a investigation by the European Commission of possible state aid to BT Group hurt an otherwise strong telecoms sector. Deutsche Telekom was among the region's top gainers, up 1 percent on a report it may raise its 2006 dividend. Vodafone climbed 1.1 percent on anticipation of positive news from an accounting update on Thursday and a trading statement next Wednesday.
Declines on Wall Street also capped markets this side of the Atlantic after disappointing profit guidance from Motorola and uninspiring earnings from other companies snapped a two-day rally. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of Europe's top companies ended 0.1 percent higher at 1,053.33 points.
FRANKFURT STOCK EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 4,245.55 points, down 5.16 or 0.12 percent.
PARIS STOCK EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3,869.01 points, down 6.01 or 0.16 percent.
ZURICH STOCK EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 5,749.5 points, up 10.1 or 0.18 percent.
MILAN STOCK EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 23,985 points, up 100 or 0.42 percent.
SYDNEY STOCK EXCHANGE: Shares fell 0.23 percent, after a profit warning from Richard Branson's Virgin Blue sent shockwaves through airline stocks and investors started to worry about consumer spending. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 ended down 9.4 points at 4,052.6, its lowest close in nearly two weeks.
JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE: South African cement maker PPC roared higher on bargain hunting and banks also rebounded, but the overall market slipped as a stronger rand hit exporters. The All-share index closed at 12,511.85 points, down 97.87 or 0.78 percent. The All Gold index closed at 1,577.7 points, down 22.04 or 1.38 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 9,392.64 points, down 72.21 or 0.76 percent.