Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Friday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European stocks ended higher, as strong US data helped soothe worries over the health of the economy and kept the market's week-long winning run alive. Data showed on Friday that new US home sales unexpectedly rose in July while new orders for durable goods surged.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index closed 0.34 percent higher, at 1,514.43, rising for the sixth session in a row.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 7507.27 points, down 4.69 or 0.06 percent on the day, but up 128.98 on the week.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5569.38 points, up 46.05 or 0.83 percent, adding 205.75 points since last weekend.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 8775.9 points, up 37.4 or 0.43 percent, and 232.87 higher since last Friday.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 31011 points, up 190 or 0.62 percent, climbing 1,029 points over the week.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares fell 1.16 percent as worries that the US could slip into a recession pressured US-exposed firms such as CSL, while Insurance Australia Group skidded on disappointing earnings. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 71.2 points to 6,088.5. The index jumped 7.4 percent on the week to post its biggest weekly gain since its launch in April 2000. The index rose 417.5 points since last Friday.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African stocks closed marginally weaker with no direction from global markets, with the rand steady against the dollar after weakening more than 1 percent earlier.
The All-share index was 0.18 percent lower at 27,417.93 points, giving up 50.14 points during the day, but higher by 1433.08 on the week.
The All Gold index closed at 2232.95 points, down 2.01 or 0.09 percent on Friday but up 29.79 on the week. The Industrial index closed at 19348.87 points, down 106.95 or 0.55 percent, but better off on the week by 804.21 points.