Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European stocks mostly closed stronger, hitting new multi-year highs as bid activity boosted automakers including Volkswagen, while US data showing mild inflation also supported markets.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.2 percent to 1,473.84, its highest unofficial closing level since May 2001, but below the day's peak of 1,474.9. Shares in Volkswagen rose 1.5 percent on market talk that sportscar maker Porsche could mount a full take-over bid for Europe's biggest carmaker, in which it is already the biggest shareholder. Porsche rallied 4.7 percent.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 6443.02 points, up 12.13 or 0.19 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5505.72 points, down 5.81 or 0.11 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 8789.38 points, down 1.79 or 0.02 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 31349 points, up 16 or 0.05 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares fell 0.69 percent as Woodside Petroleum declined after lowering its output target, while banking shares cooled after recent strong gains. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index shed 37.3 points to 5,392.6.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African stocks closed weaker as a strong rand and weaker precious metal prices battered stocks and cell phone operator MTN tumbled as talk fizzled out it might be taken over. The All-share index closed at 23436.27 points, down 223.17 or 0.94 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2807.13 points, down 33.08 or 1.16 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 16082.17 points, down 215.24 or 1.32 percent.