Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPE: European shares fell in a volatile day marked by BNP Paribas freezing payments from three of its funds that reignited fears of a credit crunch, while two central banks pumped extra cash into the market. Bank stocks were the biggest negative weight on the FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading European shares.
BNP Paribas shares fell by 3.3 percent, making them one of the worst weighted losers of the day. The FTSEurofirst ended down 1.83 percent at 1,525.84 points, having slid briefly to show a 2.5 percent loss on the day.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 7453.59 points, down 152.35 or 2.00 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5624.78 points, down 124.51 or 2.17 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 8805.32 points, down 158.86 or 1.77 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 31193 points, down 436 or 1.38 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares rose 1.06 percent as a A$1.9 billion ($1.6 billion) bid for Adelaide Bank pushed up banking shares, while Coles Group jumped as Wesfarmers improved the terms of its take-over offer. The S&P/ASX 200 index added 64.8 points to a two-week closing high of 6,165.6, taking its total gains in the past three sessions to 4.1 percent.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African markets were closed on Thursday for a public holiday. On Wednesday the All-share index closed at 28208.95 points, up 896.88 or 3.28 percent, while the All Gold index closed at 2307.85 points, up 66.87 or 2.98 percent, and the Industrial index closed at 19863.47 points, up 605.51 or 3.14 percent.
SINGAPORE STOCKS EXCHANGE: Singapore financial markets were closed on Thursday for a public holiday. Trading will resume on Friday.