Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares clawed back early losses to close flat as investors worried about the prospect of higher oil and resource prices eating into corporate earnings and economic growth.
Mining stocks sank, despite soaring commodity prices, as investors banked gains after their recent strong rally, while the London Stock Exchange leapt on bid speculation and healthy earnings propelled SABMiller higher.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst index of 300 leading shares closed off 0.17 percent at 1,364.88.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5901.25 points, down 7.22 or 0.12 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5085.11 points, down 27.49 or 0.54 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7976.57 points, down 52.49 or 0.65 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 29272 points, up 37 or 0.13 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Stocks closed 0.95 percent lower, led down by miners BHP and Rio Tinto on concerns higher oil prices could slow global economic growth and threaten robust demand for metals.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index ended 49.8 points weaker at 5,183.7, off an intraday low of 5,173.8. The index is 1.2 percent below its April 6 record of 5,248.8, but is still up 8.8 percent so far in 2006.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Gold producer Harmony fell almost 4 percent to lead South African stocks from their peak as investors sold off gold shares after the price of the precious metal fell off its highs. The All-share index closed at 20722.88 points, down 142.46 or 0.68 percent.
The All Gold index closed at 2794.12 points, down 71.01 or 2.48 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 14330.31 points, up 54.66 or 0.38 percent.