Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Tuesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares fell for a second day as investors anticipated possible inflation warnings from the European Central Bank after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said US price pressures may linger. Low-cost airline Ryanair posted the largest daily fall, shedding 8 percent after forecasting a drop in profit growth that hit the entire airline sector.
Bernanke said there was a risk that elevated levels of core inflation might not recede just yet, which stripped 0.4 percent off US blue chip stocks as investors all but ruled out a stocks-friendly rate cut this year.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 7,919.83 points, down 56.96 or 0.71 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 6,078.54 points, down 47.27 or 0.77 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 9,408.22 points, down 79.28 or 0.84 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 33,575 points, up 127 or 0.38 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian stocks fell 0.35 percent as worries about the volatile China stock market triggered profit taking in recent gainers such as the top banks, while wholesaler Metcash fell on a disappointing 2008 growth outlook. The S&P/ASX 200 index lost 22.1 points to close at 6,370.8, cooling from a record closing high set in the previous session.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African stocks posted slight gains as profit taking and speculation over an anticipated interest rate hike continued to dictate activity on the market. The All-share index closed at 28,865.9 points, up 28.38 or 0.10 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,734.91 points, down 5.63 or 0.21 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 19,575.21 points, down 34.06 or 0.17 percent.