Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European share indexes closed up for a seventh straight session to extend five-year highs, with Swedish truckmaker Scania jumping after German rival MAN raised its bid. The complicated Scania saga is the latest in a number of take-over stories, spurred by healthy corporate earnings, which have been key drivers in European stocks recovering from May and June's sharp correction sparked by inflation worries.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed up 0.77 percent at 1,436.68, its best level since June 2001. Its rise over the past seven sessions has been around 3 percent.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 6160.28 points, up 40.83 or 0.67 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5361.51 points, up 48.32 or 0.91 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 8673.73 points, up 35.73 or 0.41 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 30209 points, up 90 or 0.30 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares fell 0.4 percent, hurt by interest rate concerns, but insurer Promina surged to record highs following rival Suncorp-Metway take-over bid. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index finished down 23.4 points at 5,259.4.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African stocks edged higher as retail lenders Absa and Abil surged amid relief the reserve bank did not raise interest rates by more than an expected 50 basis points. The All-share index closed at 22751.49 points, up 72.11 or 0.32 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2743.43 points, down 65.55 or 2.33 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 15455.18 points, up 77.78 or 0.51 percent.