Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCK EXCHANGE: European shares ended at a 3-1/2-year high, buyoed by telecoms rebounding after a weak performance this year and on hopes for improved consumer sentiment.
The biggest gainers were shares in France Telecom, which rose 3.3 percent to 21.78 euros on renewed speculation that the operator will return cash to its shareholders after a tough three years of restructuring. Other European players such as Telecom Italia, BT Group and Spain's Telefonica also rose with dealers saying investors were becoming more upbeat on the only European sector still in negative territory this year.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading European shares closed 0.34 percent higher at 1,247.61 points, according to unofficial data, its highest level since April 2002.
FRANKFURT STOCK EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5,196.08 points, up 21.36 or 0.41 percent.
PARIS STOCK EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4,608.65 points, up 27.84 or 0.61 percent.
ZURICH STOCK EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7,495.15 points, up 27.42 or 0.37 percent.
MILAN STOCK EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 26,014 points, up 64 or 0.25 percent.
SYDNEY STOCK EXCHANGE: Shares fell for a third straight day, as retreating copper and gold prices weighed on the big miners like BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index fell 6.3 points, or 0.14 percent, to close at 4,616.6.
JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE: South African investors punished mining stocks as metals prices weakened and the rand gained, but banks like Absa recovered as rosy inflation data calmed worries about a early rate hike. The All-share index closed at 17,236.04 points, down 51.49 or 0.30 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,313.91 points, down 96.16 or 3.99 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 12,486.73 points, down 8.72 or 0.07 percent.
TOKYO STOCK EXCHANGE: The Japanese stock market was closed for a public holiday, Labour Thanksgiving Day. On Tuesday the Nikkei finished the day up 27.89 or 0.19 percent at 14,708.32.