Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Friday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares ended a downcast week on a bright note, with hopes for strong earnings lifting Germany's Allianz and other insurers, but a late gain in oil prices and data showing a wide US trade gap weighed. Merger and acquisition activity boosted the transport and leisure sector, with airline Swiss soaring 20 percent on talk of a tie-up with Lufthansa and UK leisure group Whitbread up 7.7 percent after saying it was in talks to sell all of its luxury Marriot UK hotels.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of pan-European blue chips closed 0.2 percent firmer at 1,087.2 points but still ended down 1.8 percent for the week after closing lower for the previous four sessions.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 4,360.49 points, up 22.81 or 0.53 percent, 63.03 points lower on the week.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4,049.18 points, up 10.97 or 0.27 percent, falling 42.4 points since last Friday.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 5,971.92 points, up 26.25 or 0.44 percent, down 37.38 points from a week ago.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 24,197 points, down 2 or 0.01 percent, a fall of 380 points from seven days ago.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian stocks closed near session lows as glum investors sold stock, including resources giants, for a second straight day as they brace for the possibility of higher interest rates. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index finished 11.7 points, or 0.28 percent, lower at 4,203.8, down 16.6 from seven days ago.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Africa's biggest mobile operator by revenue MTN led South African stocks lower on reports that Nigerian authorities were reviewing its tax holiday, but steel maker Ispat Iscor sparkled. The All-share index closed at 13,508.05 points, down 62.83 or 0.46 percent.
The index fell 126.68 points on the week. The All Gold index closed at 1,672.32 points, down 6.3 or 0.38 percent, down 56.71 points from last week, while the Industrial index closed at 10,015.15 points, down 58.54 or 0.58 percent, losing 136 points over the week.