Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Tuesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares closed at fresh 3-1/2 year highs after UK bank HBOS gained on a strong update and Swedish mobile phone equipment maker Ericsson was buoyed by a major deal.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index closed up 0.58 percent at 1,267.4 points, its highest close since April 2002. This took its gains since the start of 2005 to around 21 percent.
A sharp rise on Wall Street with the Dow Jones industrial average surging 80 points after bullish productivity data also offered general support.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5,300.85 points, up 33.99 or 0.65 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4,677.2 points, up 26.66 or 0.57 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7,611.96 points, up 27.15 or 0.36 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 26,502 points, up 141 or 0.53 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares edged down as a weak lead from Wall Street encouraged investors to lock in gains in miners like BHP Billiton, after they benefited from a recent rally in metal prices.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index lost 8.6 points, or 0.19 percent, to end at 4,616.0, after ending flat on Monday.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Banks propelled South African shares higher after comments from the central bank governor suggested an interest rate hike was not on the cards and Naspers jumped after PSG Capital bid for a stake in the media firm. The All-share index closed at 17,016.47 points, up 157.74 or 0.94 percent.
The All Gold index closed at 2,198.59 points, down 31.96 or 1.43 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 12,327.91 points, up 185.21 or 1.53 percent.