Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares bounced back to end just shy of their highest level in more than five years, recouping the previous session's losses as heavyweight miners gained and merger talk swirled.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed up 0.87 percent at 1,440.97 points, after earlier reaching 1,445.7 points, its highest level since June 2001 as it recouped Tuesday's one percent loss.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 6182.78 points, up 67.68 or 1.11 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5361.29 points, up 58.3 or 1.10 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 8620.23 points, up 84.97 or 1.00 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 30207 points, up 286 or 0.96 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares rose 0.6 percent, led by gains in banks and media stocks, with Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd soaring to an all-time high following a spin off of its media assets. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 31.9 points to close at 5,313.2.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares in the world's biggest fine paper maker Sappi surged nearly 10 percent, helping South African stocks remain in positive territory. The All-share index, which burst through the 23,000 level for the first time on Monday, ended 0.23 percent firmer at 23,209.26 points.
The All Gold index closed at 2799.97 points, up 31.4 or 1.13 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 15653.95 points, up 71.74 or 0.46 percent.