Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares fell to end at their lowest in two weeks as oil hit a record high above $76 a barrel, amid escalating violence in the Middle East, and stoked worries about corporate earnings.
Technology shares led losers, with SAP declining 6 percent after the software company pre-announced second-quarter results and missed analysts' estimates for licence sales, operating earnings and total sales. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index fell 1.4 percent to a close of 1,293.61, its lowest since June 28 and down 8 percent from a nearly five year high struck in May.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5527.29 points, down 110.53 or 1.96 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4852.52 points, down 89.21 or 1.81 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7587.96 points, down 118.99 or 1.54 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 27470 points, down 363 or 1.30 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares lost 0.85 percent, led by banking stocks, as stronger-than-expected jobs data added to concerns about an interest rate rise, though media stocks gained on merger hopes. The S&P/ASX 200 index dropped 43.7 points to 5,084.6 and is down 6 percent from a record peak of 5,406.7 in May.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Banks and gold stocks led South Africa's blue chip index more than 3 percent lower on concerns over the conflict in the Middle East and persistent concerns over inflation. The All-share index closed at 20963.97 points, down 627.71 or 2.91 percent. The All Gold index closed at 3228.82 points, down 175.9 or 5.17 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 13353.29 points, down 383.9 or 2.79 percent.