Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares edged higher, boosted by technology and resource stocks, as tame data on US core inflation helped ease interest-rate concerns and as crude oil headed towards $72 a barrel.
British Energy slid after warning it may miss its full-year target for electricity output, while Synthes fell after its profit missed expectations. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed up 0.3 percent at 1,359.59 points, hovering at three-month highs.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 5812.94 points, up 36.14 or 0.63 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5137.31 points, up 22.29 or 0.44 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 8089.71 points, up 34.39 or 0.43 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 28480 points, up 308 or 1.09 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares rose 0.5 percent, as strong earnings from QBE Insurance Group and Lend Lease Corp revived confidence, but Oil Search Ltd fell sharply. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 25.9 points to close at 4,961.9.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: BHP Billiton and Harmony lifted South African stocks higher as the price of gold and other metals rose with the dollar weakening on moderate US inflation data. The All-share index closed at 21080.52 points, up 130.34 or 0.62 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2929.81 points, up 61.46 or 2.14 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 13773.98 points, up 15.93 or 0.12 percent.