Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Thursday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares ended higher, as promises of higher returns to shareholders at Telefonica lifted telecoms, and commodity stocks gained from higher oil and metal prices. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares ended 0.62 percent higher at 1,599.43 points, making it the tenth day of gains in the last twelve. The close is the highest since July 23.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 8,033.69 points, up 47.12 or 0.59 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5,862.83 points, up 24.34 or 0.42 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 9,218.28 points, up 35.98 or 0.39 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 31,966 points, up 124 or 0.39 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares rose 0.5 percent to set a third straight record closing peak, led up by resource firms such as BHP Billiton Ltd and Woodside Petroleum Ltd on firmer oil and metal prices. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 33.6 points to end at a fresh closing high of 6,771.9.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Resources lifted stocks to a new record despite the market giving up some gains after the central bank unexpectedly hiked interest rates by 50 basis points. The All-share index closed at 31,531.05 points, up 332.32 or 1.07 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,581.25 points, up 13.05 or 0.51 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 20,975.86 points, down 86.1 or 0.41 percent.