Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares closed 2 percent up to snap a four-day losing streak after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said he expected US core inflation to decline, while technology shares also shone. A broker upgrade boosted Finnish mobile handset maker Nokia, record second-quarter profit buoyed ASML and Ericsson shot up on reports it had won a large order. Europe's FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares closed 2.17 percent up at 1,299.2, its biggest one-day gain since June 15.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5,539.29 points, up 142.44 or 2.64 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4,846.54 points, up 112 or 2.37 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7,603.57 points, up 142.23 or 1.91 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 27,543 points, up 587 or 2.18 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares slipped 0.5 percent, as falling copper prices weighed down on miners such as BHP Billiton and the overall mood was dampened by concerns about rising US interest rates and Middle East tensions. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index fell 23.2 points to 4,900.1, falling for a fifth straight day.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South Africa's main stock indexes leapt close to 3 percent in a late rally driven by comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, seen as hinting at a possible pause in interest-rate increases. The All-share index closed at 20,795.6 points, up 553.03 or 2.73 percent. The All Gold index closed at 3,272.99 points, up 42.84 or 1.33 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 13,324.96 points, up 347.97 or 2.68 percent.