Closing stock market indices

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares closed lower for a third consecutive day, but above an intraday 2-1/2 month low as stronger-than-expected US manufacturing data helped alleviate global economic and foreign exchange worries. Data showing factory activity had risen to a five-month peak in February helped ease fears over the health of the U.S economy, but cyclical car makers and market-sensitive insurers continued to feel the heat of a three-day market slide.
The FTSEurofirst 300 ended 0.8 percent lower at 1,470.18 points, its lowest closing level since December 12, in a volatile session during which the index of top Europeans shares moved within an unusually wide 50-point trading gap.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 6,640.24 points, down 75.2 or 1.12 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5,458.4 points, down 57.92 or 1.05 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 8,781.91 points, down 7.79 or 0.09 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 31,468 points, down 400 or 1.26 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares fell for the third straight session, led by losses in the top banks as investors trod cautiously following a big sell-off in the previous session. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index fell 22.3 points, or 0.38 percent, to close at 5,810.2, after posting its biggest one-day percentage fall since September 17, 2001 on Wednesday.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South Africa's bourse lost further ground as part of a global equity slump, with mining stocks Anglo American Plc and BHP Billiton leading market lower. The All-share index closed at 25,336.58 points, down 459.41 or 1.78 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,732.45 points, down 2.48 or 0.09 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 17,982.3 points, down 269.82 or 1.48 percent.
SEOUL STOCKS EXCHANGE: South Korean financial markets were closed on Thursday for a public holiday.