Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European stocks closed more than 1 percent lower on worries over North Korean missile tests and Thursday's European Central Bank interest rate decision. Among fallers, Alliance & Leicester tumbled 5.7 percent after French bank Credit Agricole said it would not now bid for its British peer.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading shares closed 1.2 percent weaker at 1,306.07 points, having risen 4 percent in the previous five winning sessions as markets rebounded from recent woes.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5,625.63 points, down 103.38 or 1.80 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4,921.3 points, down 62.58 or 1.26 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7,659.17 points, down 68.63 or 0.89 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 27,762 points, down 370 or 1.32 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares eased 0.15 percent, but gold miners such as Newcrest Mining got a boost after bullion rose in the wake of North Korea's missile launches. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index lost 7.8 points to 5,096.9, snapping a four-day rise.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Retailers and banks tumbled as South African stocks followed global markets lower on concerns over North Korea's missile tests but traders said the drop was in line with recent volatility. The All-share index closed at 20,935.92 points, down 432.24 or 2.02 percent. The All Gold index closed at 3,267.73 points, down 97.76 or 2.90 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 13,475.14 points, down 218.72 or 1.60 percent.