Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Friday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European stocks closed higher as bid talks and an upbeat US session helped the FTSEurofirst 300 index to end at its highest level in over six years. The index closed 1.3 percent higher at 1,580.02. Britain's was up 0.7 percent,
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 7,342.54 points, up 99.81 or 1.38 percent and rising 130.47 points since last weekend.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5,938.9 points, up 109.86 or 1.88 percent, gaining 149.56 points since last Friday.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 9,399.75 points, up 142.96 or 1.54 percent, climbing 222.27 since April 13.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 33,831 points, up 388 or 1.16 percent and up 351 points on the week.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares rose 0.69 percent as investors bought back shares in top banks and miners on easing concerns that a possible hike in Chinese interest rates would spark another global equity sell-off. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 42.4 points to 6,207.5, after falling 1.15 percent the previous day. The index gained 71.7 points or 1.2 percent on the week.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares climbed following a recovery by international markets from Chinese jitters, with Tiger Brands racing 7 percent on plans to divest from its healthcare business. The All-share index closed at 28,367.54 points, up 268.88 or 0.96 percent, up 235.09 points over the week.
The All Gold index closed at 2,989.93 points, up 25.1 or 0.85 percent, falling 109.3 since last Friday. The Industrial index closed at 19,708.92 points, up 186.8 or 0.96 percent, adding 391.07 points in the week.