Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares bounced higher, breaking a two-day losing streak, as Rio Tinto's bid for Alcan boosted mining stocks and oil producers rallied as crude topped $77 a barrel. Among major movers, French engineer Alstom jumped after posting strong results, while Capgemini rose on renewed talk India's Infosys would make a bid.
"In the last few days the equity markets have been worrying a lot more about what's been happening in the credit markets, obviously we've had all the worries about subprime and the possible contagion into other bond markets," said Julian Chillingworth, chief investment officer at Rathbone Brothers.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 8,053.43 points, up 154.89 or 1.96 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 6,103.05 points, up 101.96 or 1.70 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 9,248.51 points, up 34.12 or 0.37 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 33,166 points, up 276 or 0.84 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares rose 0.6 percent, rebounding from two days of losses, as mining stocks rallied ahead of Rio Tinto $38.1 billion bid for Alcan Inc. The S&P/ASX 200 index added 38.3 points to close at 6,363.4.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African shares muscled to a record high as a stronger gold price and Rio Tinto's bid for Alcan powered mining stocks but Anglo Platinum sank on a disappointing trading update. The All-share index closed at 29,791.27 points, up 147.91 or 0.50 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,647.1 points, up 58.19 or 2.25 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 20,096.08 points, up 24.13 or 0.12 percent.