Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Friday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European equities advanced for the third straight day as banks took pole position on rising prospects of cuts in US interest rates, but markets still ended with their worst monthly performance since May 2006. HSBC, Barclays, UBS and Royal Bank of Scotland all gained between 2.0 and 4.3 percent.
Miners Anglo American and Xstrata also jumped on persistent consolidation talk and a rise in metal prices. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 1.2 percent to 1,526.6, its highest finish since November 8. Global equities also jumped on Friday.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 7,870.52 points, up 105.33 or 1.36 percent, a rise of 261.56 points on the week.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5,670.57 points, up 72.46 or 1.29 percent, up 149.4 points from last Friday.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 8,828.36 points, up 93.89 or 1.07 percent, gaining 456.53 points over the week.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 29,837 points, up 297 or 1.01 percent. The index gained 690 points over the last seven days.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Shares rose 1.37 percent to the highest close in nearly two weeks, with major banks extending gains on growing expectations of a US rate cut, while miners rose on stronger base metal prices. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 88.6 points to close at 6,533.1, up 20.29 points since November 23.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Markets kicked higher on optimism about the US economy and take-over talk swirling around big miners Anglo American and Anglo Gold Ashanti. The All-share index closed at 30,307.8 points, up 382.04 or 1.28 percent, rising 705.21 points from a week ago. The All Gold index closed at 2,624.38 points, up 65.06 or 2.54 percent, gaining 129.04 since last week. The Industrial index closed at 21,078.85 points, up 119.8 or 0.57 percent, up 518.45 points on the week.
MANILA STOCKS EXCHANGE: Philippine stocks and financial markets are closed on Friday for a public holiday. Trading resumes on Monday.