Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European stocks closed up ahead of the Federal Reserve's rate decision, buoyed by oil stocks as crude rose and media shares as EMI locked horns in a take-over tussle with Warner Music.
Takeover speculation continued to swirl through the market, with steelmaker Corus gaining on talk Russia's Severstal may be mulling a bid. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed up 0.2 percent at 1,272.25 after having fallen as much as 0.5 percent in opening trade.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5456.87 points, down 2.28 or 0.04 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4774 points, up 2.76 or 0.06 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7431.9 points, up 25.07 or 0.34 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 27209 points, up 47 or 0.17 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Australian share market fell 1 percent, as top stocks followed Wall Street down on investor wariness over how high the US Federal Reserve might raise interest rates to tame inflation. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closed 52.4 points lower at 4,946.8.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Mining stocks dragged the South African bourse lower due to a stronger rand, while retailers and banks starred as investors picked sectors that were recently hammered. The All-share index closed at 20211.5 points, down 18.08 or 0.09 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2997.04 points, down 79.53 or 2.59 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 13070.07 points, up 42.2 or 0.32 percent.