Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Tuesday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European shares fell as persistent earnings concerns hurt financials such as Royal Bank of Scotland and as mobile phone maker Nokia's trading update disappointed investors.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 1.3 percent lower at 1,500.47 points. Travel and leisure stocks fell the most, 3.3 percent on the DJ STOXX sector index, with British Airways, Air France-KLM and Lufthansa down after an investment bank predicted weaker premium traffic demand and amid worries about high jet fuel prices.
Defensive stocks such as power utility E.ON and telecommunications operator Telefonica were among the gainers on safe-haven buying, while take-over talk lifted drugs and chemicals group Bayer and miner Rio Tinto.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 7808.94 points, down 28.32 or 0.36 percent.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 5547.21 points, down 82.25 or 1.46 percent.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 8645.04 points, down 61.18 or 0.70 percent.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 29453 points, down 279 or 0.94 percent.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: Australian shares ended little changed, with a fall in base metals prices weighing on miners, while hopes of an imminent US interest rate cut buoyed US-exposed firms such as Westfield Group. The S&P/ASX 200 index ended down 2.7 points, or 0.04 percent, at 6,530.8.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: South African stocks fell as traders feared a commodity rally could soon run out of steam and as fears of higher interest rates mounted, but bonds firmed in thin trade. The All-share index closed at 29947.49 points, down 356.18 or 1.18 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2580.68 points, up 5.25 or 0.20 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 20854.34 points, down 222.97 or 1.06 percent.