Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares shrugged off their earlier losses to close higher as a bounce in auto and technology stocks helped offset lower mining stocks and worries about slowing global growth.
Among the stream of companies reporting earnings, Aviva dropped despite posting a healthy profit jump, while Commerzbank tumbled after a weaker-than-expected performance in its key units. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading European shares closed up 0.7 percent at 1,340.7 points, after earlier dipping to a near two-week low.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5,702.81 points, up 50.89 or 0.90 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5,025.15 points, up 57.2 or 1.15 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7,882.93 points, up 89.67 or 1.15 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 28,182 points, up 115 or 0.41 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares shed 1.25 percent, as companies geared to US growth fell on concerns of a slowdown in the world's biggest economy, while engineering contractor Downer EDI dived on flagging a full-year loss. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index fell 62.8 points to 4,962.0, retreating from Tuesday's three-and-half week closing high.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: The South African stock market was closed for a public holiday. On Tuesday the All-share index added 0.53 percent or 110.06 points to close at 20,793.45 points. The All Gold index closed at 2966.86 points, up 2.15 or 0.07 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 13496.09 points, up 106.46 or 0.80 percent.
SINGAPORE STOCKS EXCHANGE: Singapore financial/stock markets were closed on Wednesday due to a public holiday. They will reopen on Thursday.