Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares closed at fresh 5-1/2 year highs, powered by strong commodity-related stocks, take-over activity and a rise in the dollar after an upbeat reading of US jobless claims.
Nestle rallied 2.2 percent on news it was buying the medical nutrition business of drugmaker Novartis - a $2.5 billion deal that will propel the world's largest food group to the No 2 position globally in the fast-growing niche business of providing specialised food to hospital patients.
Consolidation talk in the airline sector also contributed to underpin sentiment, with many investors brushing aside caution ahead of Friday's raft of US economic reports, which include crucial data on consumer prices and industrial production.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 6,552.58 points, up 31.81 or 0.49 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5,509.58 points, up 33.73 or 0.62 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 8,776.64 points, up 98.1 or 1.13 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 31,574 points, up 6 or 0.02 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares rose 1.6 percent to finish at a record closing peak and all-time high, as QBE Insurance jumped on an overseas buy and Qantas gained on agreeing to an improved take-over bid. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index climbed 84.9 points to end at an all-time high of 5,573.1.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Anglo American Plc and BHP Billiton led South African stocks higher after Anglo divested further from non-mining activities and base metal prices rose, boosting its rival. The All-share index closed at 23,965.91 points, up 254.74 or 1.07 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,859.65 points, up 33.88 or 1.20 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 16,748.46 points, up 59.07 or 0.35 percent.