Closing stock market indices

Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Friday.
EUROPE STOCKS EXCHANGE: European stocks fell, as signs of building inflation pressures in the euro zone dampened hopes for any European Central Bank rate cut soon, while banks and oil stocks also dragged the index lower. E.ON weighed on the utilities sector, falling 2.5 percent, after the world's largest utility said 2008 profits would come out at the lower end of its predicted range.
BP and Total were down between 0.6 and 1.8 percent on the back of crude prices, which fell as flows through Iraq's pipeline system were restored after disruption by a bomb attack a day earlier. The FTSEurofirst 300 index closed down 0.5 percent at 1,265.47 points. But the index rose 3.2 percent on the week:- its first weekly rise in the last five weeks and its largest weekly increase since early December.
FRANKFURT STOCKS EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 6,559.9 points, down 18.16 or 0.28 percent, a gain of 239.91 points from a week ago.
PARIS STOCKS EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4,695.92 points, down 23.61 or 0.50 percent but rising 162.2 points since March 20.
ZURICH STOCKS EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 7,239.35 points, down 25.61 or 0.35 percent. The index gained 229.49 points over the week.
MILAN STOCKS EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 24,208 points, up 15 or 0.06 percent, 1,094 points higher on the week.
SYDNEY STOCKS EXCHANGE: The S&P/ASX 200 index share index lost 0.38 percent, falling for a second straight day, as financials including National Australia Bank Ltd fell on concerns about more writedowns by Wall Street banks. The index shed 20.5 points to end at 5,351.1, adding 223.6 points from last Thursday.
JOHANNESBURG STOCKS EXCHANGE: Stocks were lower 'as the market steadied after a week of heavy rallying, and the rand weakened against the dollar. The All-share index closed at 29,962.18 points, down 132.88 or 0.44 percent, gaining 1,543.45 points from last Thursday. The All Gold index closed at 2,551.21 points, up 15.06 or 0.59 percent, up 58.58 points since last weekend. The Industrial index closed at 19,726.82 points, down 179.34 or 0.90 percent, gaining 765.57 points since last Thursday.