Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares ended at a 2-1/2-week high as firm energy stocks and upbeat earnings from companies such as Northern Rock offset a couple of disappointing earnings updates and continuing violence in Lebanon. Sentiment was fragile as investors weighed a mixed set of European and US corporate earnings, renewed concern that the Federal Reserve may raise interest rates further, and oil prices that kept above $74 a barrel despite world diplomats calling for a cease-fire between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.
Many investors also stuck to the sidelines before Thursday's flood of corporate results, hoping companies such as Alcatel, France Telecom, Siemens, Volkswagen, ABB or AstraZeneca will add to the overall positive earnings tone set so far. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares added 0.4 percent to close unofficially at 1,320.81 points, its highest closing level since July 10 but still some 6 percent away from a near five-year peak set in early May.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5583.1 points, up 17.34 or 0.31 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4943 points, up 9.88 or 0.20 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7815.13 points, up 30.33 or 0.39 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 27764 points, up 139 or 0.50 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares lost 1.14 percent, as interest rate sensitive sectors such as banks and retailers fell after stronger-than-expected consumer price data cemented expectations of another rate rise next week. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index shed 56.7 points to 4,935.7.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African stocks muscled higher as steady gold prices bolstered some mining stocks, and AngloGold Ashanti jumped on hopes for strong second quarter results. The All-share index closed at 20553.85 points, up 140.85 or 0.69 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2990.95 points, up 71.58 or 2.45 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 13590.9 points, up 88.42 or 0.65 percent.