Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPE STOCK EXCHANGE: European share indexes closed near break-even as investors digested a hefty serving of corporate results and buyers paused after pushing stocks steadily higher over the past few weeks. French bank Societe Generale was among the top blue-chip gainers, climbing 3.7 percent after posting a forecast-beating 30 percent rise in fourth-quarter profits. But telecoms equipment maker Ericsson tumbled 8.2 percent, more than erasing this week's rally, as disappointment over margins overshadowed a strong final quarter.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of pan-European blue chips closed 0.1 percent lower at 1,087.4 points, having failed to hit a fresh 31-month intra-day high for the first time in 11 sessions.
FRANKFURT STOCK EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 4342.01 points, down 11.14 or 0.26 percent.
PARIS STOCK EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 3970.37 points, up 0.75 or 0.02 percent.
ZURICH STOCK EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 5871.2 points, up 4.7 or 0.08 percent.
MILAN STOCK EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 24711 points, up 17 or 0.07 percent.
SYDNEY STOCK EXCHANGE: Stocks edged up 0.1 percent after robust banks, led by a bullish reaction to Commonwealth Bank's profit, overpowered the spectre of rising interest rates. Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index edged 2.8 points, or 0.07 percent, up to close at 4,174.9, after spending much of the day on negative ground.
JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE: Africa's biggest steel maker Ispat Iscor dragged the South African market off its all time highs after a disappointing dividend, but banks impressed. The All-share index closed at 13086.46 points, down 21.04 or 0.16 percent. The All Gold index closed at 1582.03 points, up 27.37 or 1.76 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 9655.84 points, down 83.86 or 0.86 percent.